Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has come under criticism after revealing he would leave Belgium’s FIFA World Cup camp to attend the birth of his first child if the tournament overlaps with his wife’s due date.
The 24-year-old, who plays for Manchester City, said his wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth during the second week of July. Should Belgium remain in the competition until the quarter-final stage, Doku indicated he would prefer to return home for the occasion.
Speaking to Reuters, Doku described the birth of his first child as a moment he does not want to miss, while acknowledging the competing demands of professional football.
His comments sparked debate, with French television presenter France Pierron criticising the decision and arguing that leaving a World Cup campaign for the birth would be difficult to justify given the rarity of the opportunity.
However, Doku also received widespread support online. Former Olympic boxing champion Brahim Asloum defended the winger, insisting family should take precedence over football.
Pierron later apologised for her remarks, saying she had been expressing a personal opinion and never intended to diminish the role of fathers during childbirth.
