Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has said he will be leaving the World Cup, where he is playing for Belgium, to attend the birth of his first child.
Jeremy Doku plans to leave the World Cup due to the birth of his child (Image: AFP, Getty Images)
The French pundit has issued a half-hearted apology after receiving an almighty backlash for criticizing Jeremy Doku’s decision to leave the World Cup due to the birth of his child.
The Manchester City winger explained before the start of the tournament that he intends to leave the team when his first child is born. Although it hasn’t happened yet, the decision has puzzled France Pierron, a journalist and host of L’Equipe de Shock.
In the program’s discussion segment, she said: “You can’t miss the World Cup…and now you’re not going to the game to cut the umbilical cord?”
“You have a chance to play in the World Cup, there are hundreds of football players willing to kill to take your place, and you leave it all alone and you’re there to witness the birth of your child. It’s a disgusting moment, excuse me, but the father is useless and he has the role of an extra.”
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Pierron’s controversial views immediately sparked a fierce backlash on social media, with many criticizing her outdated views. She’s backtracked now, but only slightly.
In a statement published in X, translated from French, she wrote: “In view of the huge number of reactions after my comments in L’Equipe de Chocolate about Belgian footballer Jeremy Doku, I would like to make some clarifications. In it, I expressed my personal opinion within the framework of a debate.”
“In doing so, I expressed personal opinions in the context of a controversial exchange. These statements are committed solely to me and in no way reflect a collective position. I understand that these statements may have shocked, offended, or offended some of you, and I apologize for that.”
“My intention is not to diminish the position and role of fathers in relation to their partners and children.”
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Jeremy Dok is due to give birth to his first child soon (Image: Dirk Waem/Belga/Shutterstock)
Speaking on L’Equipe, Pierron added: “Don’t the midwives know how to do that? Meanwhile, you’ll waste 10 hours. You’ll be exhausted, you’ll have an emotional breakdown, and by the World Cup you’ll be completely out of energy.”
She received some backlash from former boxer Brahim Asloum, who was also on the show. “Babies are everything in life,” Asloum said. “You can win or miss the World Cup, but once it’s over, it’s over,” Pierron retorted, “But Brahim, your baby will always be there.”
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the child’s birth before the tournament, Doc said, “It depends on when it happens, but it’s my first child so I definitely want to be present.”
“If you ask me what I want, my answer is that no one wants to miss out on the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many other considerations. I know that the federation supports the players and understands their situation. We will see what we can do.”
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