Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has returned to the World Cup squad after leaving camp to be present for the birth of his first child in England.
The Manchester City forward travelled from Belgium’s tournament base after being granted permission by the national team, completing a long journey to attend the birth.
The decision sparked mixed reactions, with some criticism in parts of the French media. L’Equipe TV presenter France Pierron described a father as “completely useless” during childbirth, calling it a “disgusting moment.”
In a statement, L’Equipe said Pierron’s comments were “very far removed” from the organisation’s values and confirmed she would remain off-air until the end of the current season of her show on 3 July. The presenter has also issued an apology.
Across football, the reaction was largely supportive of Doku’s decision, with several players and coaches pointing to similar situations in the past where players have missed matches for family reasons.
Doku is not the first footballer to prioritise the birth of a child over club or international duty. In 2018, Fabian Delph left England’s World Cup camp in Russia to return home for the birth of his daughter.
That same year, Manchester City midfielder David Silva missed two matches after the early arrival of his son, while former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was granted extended leave in 2021 when his partner gave birth during the Covid-19 pandemic.
More recently, Norway defender Leo Østigård watched the birth of his son via FaceTime while at the World Cup, while Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves experienced a similar situation in 2021, watching the birth of his child while on the team bus after a Premier League match.
Speaking on the broader issue, former Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane once joked that Robbie Keane should have played against Germany after the birth of his son “unless he’s breastfeeding.”
Former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, speaking as a BBC Sport pundit during the World Cup, said such decisions should be left to the player.
“Football is the most important of not important things – so it is not important at a time like this,” Frank said.
“To see your wife or partner give birth is one of the biggest things you will experience, and I think it is so important also to be there.
“It has always been a priority to tell my players that. I would say: ‘It is up to you – I recommend you be there.’”
Frank added that Doku’s return would likely benefit Belgium emotionally, saying: “When he comes back, he will be absolutely on top of the world.”
(The Whistler)
