French sports newspaper L’Équipe has apologised to Belgium winger Jeremy Doku after a presenter criticised his decision to leave the World Cup camp to be present for the birth of his first child.
The publication said the comments made by France Pierron did not reflect its values.
During the show “L’Équipe de Choc”, Pierron questioned Doku’s priorities after he revealed he wanted to be with his wife Shireen, who is expected to give birth in early July. She argued that playing at the World Cup was a rare opportunity that many footballers would dream of having.
Doku, who plays for Manchester City, responded that missing the birth of his first child was not something he wanted to consider. The 24-year-old Belgian forward said such a moment only happens once, as his team hopes to continue into the later stages of the tournament.
The comments sparked criticism, with England striker Ollie Watkins supporting Doku’s choice and saying welcoming a first child is a special moment. He added that personal family decisions should be respected, while it remains unclear whether Pierron will appear on the programme’s next broadcast.
