Sports
Doku criticised over plan to attend birth of first child during World Cup
Belgium winger Jérémy Doku has come under criticism after revealing that he intends to leave Belgium's World Cup camp to be present for the birth of his first child if the tournament overlaps with his wife's due date.
Doku's wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth during the second week of July. The 24-year-old Manchester City forward said he would like to return home even if Belgium are still competing in the tournament, which would likely be at the quarter-final stage.
"It's my first child, so I would definitely want to be there," Doku said, adding that while football commitments are important, he hopes a solution can be found with the support of the Belgian federation.
His comments sparked controversy after French television presenter France Pierron criticised the decision, arguing that playing at a World Cup is a rare opportunity that should take precedence.
Pierron described leaving the tournament for a birth as walking away from a childhood dream and made remarks suggesting fathers play a limited role during childbirth, comments that drew significant backlash online.
Many supporters defended Doku's position, including former Olympic boxing champion Brahim Asloum, who argued that family should come first.
"A baby is your entire life. A World Cup is over when it is over," Asloum wrote.
Following the criticism, Pierron issued an apology on social media, saying her comments reflected a personal opinion expressed during a heated discussion and acknowledging that they may have upset or offended people.
She clarified that she did not intend to diminish the importance of fathers' roles in supporting their partners and children.
The debate has highlighted the difficult balance elite athletes often face between professional commitments and major family milestones.
Meanwhile, Belgium confirmed that Doku missed Sunday's World Cup group match against Iran due to illness. The Red Devils drew 0-0 with Iran after opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Egypt national football team, leaving their qualification hopes dependent on the final group match against New Zealand national football team.
