A French broadcaster called childbirth "disgusting" and "completely useless" for fathers to attend. That's the sentence that turned a heartwarming family story into one of the World Cup's most talked-about controversies.
Belgium winger Jérémy Doku had been upfront about his situation from the start. His wife Shireen was due in the second week of July, and the 24-year-old Manchester City player said he'd want to be there — even if it meant stepping away from the tournament. Honest, measured, reasonable. "Nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child," he told reporters. "But I also know that football involves many other considerations."
The comment that set everything off
France Pierron, a broadcaster on French channel L'Equipe, took a different view. In a clip that went viral almost immediately, she argued that Doku walking away from a World Cup quarter-final run to attend a birth was absurd — describing the moment as "disgusting" and the father's presence as "completely useless." "He just holds your hand and takes a photo," she said.
The backlash was swift and loud enough to reach the tournament's own press conferences. England striker Ollie Watkins, a father of two, was asked directly about it. His response was straightforward: "A first child only happens once. Someone labeled his decision disgusting, and that is not the way to talk about a birth."
L'Equipe the media group — separate from the television channel — moved quickly to distance itself, saying it "disassociates itself" from Pierron's remarks, which were "very far removed from the group's values." Pierron then posted an apology on X, framing her words as personal opinion made "within the context of a contentious exchange." "My intention was never to minimise the place or role of fathers," she wrote.
What actually happened
Doku's son arrived earlier than expected, on June 22 — before the quarter-finals, before anyone had to make an impossible call. He missed Belgium's 0-0 draw with Iran on June 21, rejoined the squad the following day, and was back in camp ahead of Saturday's match against New Zealand. The Belgian football federation confirmed that "the mother, father, and baby are all doing wonderfully."
The whole episode turned out to be a non-issue on the pitch — Belgium only dropped two points while he was gone, against a side they were expected to contain. His return gives Red Devils fans reason to feel settled heading into the New Zealand fixture, with one of their most dangerous attackers back in the fold and, presumably, a clear head.
Pierron's apology was the last word publicly. Whether it landed as genuine is another matter entirely.
