The football world has firmly backed Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku after he expressed his desire to leave Belgium’s World Cup camp for the birth of his first child.
Doku, 24, is expecting his first child with wife Shireen, who is due to give birth during the second week of July, potentially during the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
The Belgian winger played 86 minutes of his country’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt in Group G before missing their 0-0 draw against Iran through illness.
The situation drew significant attention after L’Equipe channel presenter France Pierron described a father’s presence at childbirth as “completely useless”, calling it a “disgusting moment”.
L’Equipe subsequently issued an apology, stating Pierron’s comments were “very far removed” from its values, with Pierron also apologising and reportedly not presenting her show on Monday.
Doku addressed the situation directly, telling Reuters: “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child.”
He added: “But I also know that football involves many other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We’ll see what we can do.”
England striker Ollie Watkins, a father of two, offered his strong support for Doku’s position after the critical comments emerged publicly.
“I think someone labelled it disgusting and I think for a start that’s not a way to label a birth,” Watkins said, adding that welcoming a first child into the world “only happens once” and is “a blessing”.
The Professional Footballers’ Association weighed in, arguing that demands placed on players should never come at the expense of “fundamental family moments” in their personal lives.
“While every situation is different, we believe players should be supported in balancing their professional responsibilities with important life events,” a PFA spokesperson said.
The Fatherhood Institute’s deputy chief executive Jeremy Davies drew a vivid comparison to illustrate the broader cultural pressure elite athletes face throughout their careers.
“It makes me think of gladiators in the Colosseum,” Davies told BBC Sport, adding that some things are worth far more than money or entertainment.
Former Brentford and Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, working as a BBC Sport pundit during the World Cup, was equally emphatic in his support for Doku’s right to be present.
“Football is the most important of not important things – so it is not important at a time like this,” Frank said, calling Doku going home “the right thing to do”.
Frank added: “When he comes back, he will be absolutely on top of the world,” reflecting a view widely shared across the football community and beyond.
Doku would not be the first player to prioritise family over football, with Fabian Delph famously leaving England’s 2018 World Cup camp in Russia to attend the birth of his daughter.
David Silva missed two Manchester City matches in 2018 following the premature arrival of his son, while David de Gea was granted extended leave during the Covid pandemic when his partner Edurne gave birth to their daughter in 2021.
Norway defender Leo Ostigard offered a contrasting example this weekend, watching his son’s birth on FaceTime while remaining at the current World Cup with his squad.
Ruben Neves experienced a similar situation in January 2021, watching the birth of his third child on his phone from Wolves’ team bus after a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Current Fifa regulations specify a minimum of 14 weeks’ paid maternity leave for female footballers but contain no specific paternity leave provisions for men in the professional game.
