Belgian soccer star ignores critics, leaves World Cup for birth of first child

Despite public criticism for his decision, a Belgian footballer currently competing in the World Cup temporarily left the team to attend the birth of his first child.

Key Takeaways:

• Jérémy Doku is a member of the Belgian National Football Team, which is currently competing in the World Cup.

• He told reporters he would temporarily leave the team during competition so as not to miss the birth of his first child.

• Doku received public criticism for missing a game, which then caused more backlash.

• After his son was born, Doku returned to the team, and only missed one game.

The Backstory:

Earlier in June, Doku announced that his wife, Shireen, was pregnant and due in July, which presented a challenge for the star footballer. While the World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so is the birth of your first child, and Doku said he did not intend to miss it — not even if Belgium was still participating in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Doku told Reuters:

“It ​depends on when it happens, but it's my first child, so I ‌would ⁠definitely want to be there. 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. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we ​can do."

Doku plays football professionally for Manchester City, so travel by plane would have been necessary from the United States to London to attend the birth.

This plan was harshly criticized by female L'Equipe channel presenter France Pierron, who called childbirth a "disgusting moment." She opined:

"The World Cup is an incredible joy. 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."

But viewers did not pardon the expression.

Pierron's comments were criticized in return, including by athletes like former boxer Brahim Asloum. “A baby is your entire life," he said. "A World Cup is over when it is over.”

English footballer Ollie Watkins likewise hit back at Pierron:

"I think someone labelled it disgusting and I think for a start that's not a way to label a birth. I've seen what my wife had to go through and that was quite smooth sailing but I know family members and friends that haven't had it that way.

It only happens once - welcoming your first child to the world - and it is a blessing. There's a lot of times where you're away from family and friends during the season and it's very difficult, so to miss that would be tough and I see where he's coming from."

After significant backlash, the channel itself issued an apology for Pierron's remarks. The Globe reported:

L'Equipe also issued a statement distancing itself from Pierron, saying the network "disassociates itself" from comments that were "very far removed from the group's values," the Athletic reported, adding L'Equipe also apologized to Doku and its viewers.

The Details:

Doku participated in Belgium's first match, which was against England, but missed the game against Iran to be by Shireen's side, with the blessing of his team.

"With the approval of and accompanied by one of our team doctors, Jeremy travelled to London to be with his wife for this unique occasion," the team said in a statement. "Jeremy will rejoin the squad tomorrow evening in Seattle as preparations continue for next match against New Zealand."

The team also posted a video of the Belgian team celebrating Doku's return, saying he was "[b]ack in camp after the most important assist of his life" (emphasis added).

Doku and his wife welcomed their son, Praise, and announced the news with a sweet message posted to social media:

Thank you to everyone for the love, prayers and kind messages over the past few days.

Shireen and Praise are doing great, and my heart is full of gratitude. Welcoming my son into the world is one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me.

Thank you to the team for the support, now it's time to get back to football and represent my country on the biggest stage.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above."
James 1:17

Doku will now play in the team's final group match against New Zealand.

The Bottom Line:

Playing in the World Cup is an incredible accomplishment, but as many parents know, there are few (if any) greater, more life-changing moments to experience than the birth of one's own child.