Belgium player left the World Cup for the birth of his 1st child, and people had opinions

Jérémy Doku left the World Cup for the birth of his 1st child, and people had opinions

French announcer called childbirth 'disgusting moment' where 'dads are useless'

Congratulations, it's a ... controversy.

Belgium winger Jérémy Doku flew from the World Cup to be with his wife for the birth of their first child on Sunday, sparking a debate about professional athletes and fatherhood.

Some soccer players and associations backed Doku, but an announcer on French sports media leader L’Équipe criticized his choice, calling childbirth a "disgusting moment" where "dads are useless."

"There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your place," announcer France Pierron said on the show.

"You're living out a childhood dream, yet you're going to walk away ‌from it all to attend the birth of your child," she added, according to the Guardian.

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L’Équipe has disavowed those comments and apologized to Doku in a statement late Sunday, adding the comments by Pierron did not represent its values. She has also reportedly been suspended by the World Cup broadcaster.

But the debacle has shone a spotlight on what's becoming an ongoing issue in pro sports: What should be the priority, and is it anyone's business what an athlete decides?

"It only happens once, your first child. Welcoming them to the world is a blessing," England striker Ollie Watkins, a father of two, said about Doku at a news conference on Sunday.

"I think he has the right to to go back and be there," Watkins said. "I don't think it's anyone else's business what he gets up to after training."

'One of the greatest blessings'

Doku's wife, Shireen, gave birth to a son named Praise on Monday, the Belgian soccer federation said in a statement.

He missed Belgium's 0-0 draw against Iran on Sunday due to illness and was cleared to fly "to be with his family during this very special moment," team doctor Brahim Hacene said.

On Tuesday, Doku wrote on Instagram that his wife and son "are doing great."

"Welcoming my son into the world is one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me," he wrote. "Now it's time to get back to football and represent my country on the biggest stage."

Doku is preparing to fly back to join his team, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Belgium, who are third in Group G, play New Zealand in Vancouver in their final group game on Friday.

Messages of support for Doku have been rolling in, including from Belgium team captain Youri Tielemans.

"I think having a child is the most beautiful thing in the world," Tielemans said, The Associated Press reported. "It’s memories you can’t take back."

The Professional Footballers' Association told BBC Sports that demands placed on players should not be at the expense of "fundamental family moments." And the United Nations Population Fund posted on Instagram that "every father should have the opportunity to be present for the moments that matter most, even if it means missing out on the #WorldCup2026."

Different dads, different plays

Doku certainly isn't the first athlete to miss important games for dad business.

In 2018, England’s Fabian Delph flew home from the World Cup in Russia to be there for the birth of his third child, missing a game before flying back to join his teammates.

In 2024, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards left an NBA game at halftime for the birth of his child. His teammate, Rudy Gobert, missed a playoff game for the same reason and faced criticism for it.

"I love this game. I dedicated my whole life to this game. But this is one thing that is above that," Gobert told Fox Sports.

Meanwhile, just last Friday, baseball star Shohei Ohtani was out of the Dodgers lineup for the birth of his second child.

But plenty of other athletes have made different decisions — even just in the 2026 World Cup. As BBC points out, FIFA doesn't have specific rules for paternity leave.

Earlier in June, South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu missed the birth of his daughter while at a training session at Chivas Verde ​Valle in Zapopan, near Guadalajara in Mexico. He told Reuters he hoped to make up for his absence with his performance on the pitch.

And on Friday, Norway defender Leo Ostigard watched the birth of his son over FaceTime.

"She did an amazing job,” Ostigard said in an Instagram video published by the Norwegian FA. "I'm so proud."

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Natalie Stechyson has been a writer and editor at CBC News since 2021. She covers stories on social trends, families, gender, human interest, as well as general news. She's worked as a journalist since 2009, with stints at the Globe and Mail and Postmedia News, among others. Before joining CBC News, she was the parents editor at HuffPost Canada, where she won a silver Canadian Online Publishing Award for her work on pregnancy loss. You can reach her at natalie.stechyson@cbc.ca.

With files from Reuters and The Associated Press