Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku intends to leave Belgium’s World Cup squad next month to attend the birth of his first child, prompting widespread support from fellow professionals and organisations after a French television presenter criticised his priorities.
The 24-year-old’s wife Shireen is due during the second week of July. Should Belgium advance beyond the group stage, Doku could miss a quarter-final fixture. He missed Belgium’s goalless draw against Iran through illness but featured for 86 minutes in their opening 1-1 draw with Egypt.
Television Presenter Suspended
The issue sparked controversy when L’Equipe channel presenter France Pierron described a father’s presence at childbirth as “completely useless” and called the event a “disgusting moment”. The broadcaster suspended Pierron and issued an apology, stating her comments were “very far removed” from its values. The presenter subsequently apologised and did not host her scheduled programme.
Support from Peers
England striker Ollie Watkins, a father of two, publicly backed Doku’s decision. “It only happens once – welcoming your first child to the world,” Watkins said. He added that missing the birth “would be tough” given the extensive time players already spend away from their families during the season.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) issued a statement supporting players balancing “professional responsibilities with important life events”. The Fatherhood Institute also defended Doku, with deputy chief executive Jeremy Davies commenting that society expects players to be “heroic figures who exist for our entertainment” while forgetting that “some things are worth a lot more”.
Regulatory Gap and Precedents
FIFA regulations mandate 14 weeks’ paid maternity leave for female players but contain no specific paternity provisions for men. Doku told Reuters: “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child.” He noted that the Belgium federation understands players’ situations.
Doku would follow precedents set by Fabian Delph, who left England’s 2018 World Cup camp for his daughter’s birth, and David Silva, who missed Manchester City fixtures in 2018. David de Gea received extended leave during the pandemic in similar circumstances. However, not all players have been present; Norway defender Leo Ostigard watched his child’s birth via FaceTime during the current tournament, while Ruben Neves viewed his third child’s arrival on his mobile phone from the Wolverhampton Wanderers team bus in 2021 due to travel restrictions.