French presenter apologises for calling Doku 'useless' over World Cup birth plan

A French television presenter has apologised after publicly attacking Belgium winger Jeremy Doku’s decision to leave the World Cup to be present for the birth of his first child.

Doku, 24, told Reuters he intends to return home even if Belgium are still in the tournament, with his wife Shireen due during the second week of July — a window that coincides with the quarter-finals. Belgian media reported that arrangements are being made for the Manchester City forward to travel home by private jet if needed.

“It depends on when it happens, but it’s my first child, so I would definitely want to be there,” Doku said. “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many other considerations.”

Channel L’Equipe presenter France Pierron took issue with that stance on social media, writing: “There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life. You’re living out a childhood dream, yet you’re going to walk away from it all to attend the birth of your child — a disgusting moment, if you’ll pardon the expression, where the dad is completely useless.”

The comments drew widespread criticism, and Pierron subsequently posted an apology on X. “I was expressing a personal opinion, within the framework of a debate,” she wrote. “I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that. My intention has never been to minimise the place or role of fathers with their partner and their child.”

Doku is already absent from Belgium’s group-stage match against Iran on Sunday due to a chest infection, meaning the birth debate has overshadowed his tournament before he has even featured.

The controversy arrives as the World Cup has already seen its first birth. Norway defender Leo Ostigard watched his partner Aurora Eidmann give birth to their son via video link on Friday, celebrating afterwards with teammates Erling Haaland, Jorgen Strand Larsen, and Sander Berge, who burst into his hotel room. “When I saw him for the first time, I was blown away,” the 26-year-old said in a video published by the Norwegian FA. “It’s definitely the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced.”