Doku, striker for the Belgian national team, temporarily left Belgium’s concentration at the 2026 World Cup to be present at the birth of his first child.
The gesture, which for most people represents a moment of humanity and responsibility, was harshly criticized by a French journalist.
On the program L’Équipe de Choc, on L’Équipe, presenter France Pierron did not mince words. She classified the moment of birth as a “dégueulasse moment” (disgusting/unpleasant) and stated that the father “is useless”, only having “a role as an extra” — holding her hand and taking a photo.
The statement generated an immediate wave of outrage on social media and in the press. Many pointed out the cold, old-fashioned and disrespectful tone, especially as it comes from a woman in 2026, a year in which the presence of parents at births is seen as something natural and important by the vast majority of society.
Faced with the strong negative repercussion, L’Équipe publicly apologized for the comments and to the player Jérémy Doku.. The broadcaster also decided to remove France Pierron from the air until the end of the season.
The journalist herself tried to apologize online, but many people considered the apology insufficient.
Meanwhile, Doku’s wife has already given birth to the couple’s first child, and the player was able to be present with an agreement made with the Belgian national team’s technical committee.
The case clearly exposes how certain “old school” views on fatherhood still persist in some environments, including sports journalism. Calling the birth of a child a “disgusting” moment and minimizing the role of the father demonstrates zero sensitivity and zero notion of how society has evolved.
Prioritizing family, even during a World Cup, is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary: it is an act of humanity, maturity and responsibility.
Doku made the right choice. And the episode serves as a reminder that, in 2026, phrases like these no longer go unnoticed — nor without consequences.
Until next time.
