French Journalist's Comments on Belgium Star Jeremy Doku Spark Fan Backlash
Jeremy Doku's personal decision has become a global talking point. The star singer came into Belgium's World Cup opener against Egypt with plenty to discuss.
Doku touched on his current form, his ability to beat defenders one on one, and his expectations heading into the tournament. Then a reporter shifted the conversation toward his personal life, and that's when things took an unexpected turn.
Doku revealed that his partner is pregnant and admitted he wants to be present for the birth if it's possible to make that happen. He added that the Belgian football federation already knows about the situation and that conversations are still ongoing behind the scenes.
It seemed like a simple, human answer to a personal question. Instead it sparked a debate that spread far beyond Belgium. Some critics argued that stepping away from the national team during a World Cup, even briefly, would be hard to defend.
That criticism reached another level when French television presenter France Pierron shared her own take publicly, suggesting a World Cup appearance is too rare an opportunity to leave behind, even for the birth of a child.
"I'm sorry, the father serves no purpose," she said, per The Athletic. "He is an extra. He just holds your hand and takes a photo. You're going to take a 10 hour flight, exhaust yourself, go through the wringer emotionally. How can you return to play after that? The baby will always be there."
Jérémy Doku could temporarily leave Belgium's World Cup camp to be present for the birth of his son, and the debate has exploded across Europe.
— Football Tweet (@Footballtweet) June 21, 2026
French journalist France Pierron didn't hold back:
Pierron: "Are you seriously telling me these players have sacrificed… pic.twitter.com/OLAQzJEtQM
Fans wasted no time responding, and the backlash came fast and pointed.
Fans Push Back Against the Comments
"I'm on the side of being there for your child's birth. The World Cup is huge. The birth of your child is bigger," one fan said.
"I don't get why these reporters think they have a say on a footballer's personal life. You're there to report football, so report football," another added.
"The birth of his child only comes once in a lifetime. Prioritizing a World Cup over your child's birth? That's not dedication, that's just being a deadbeat with better PR. Doku's right. Real men show up," one more wrote.
"If I was Doku, I'd never miss the birth of my child for the World Cup," another commented.
Pierron has since apologized, and there's a fair argument that her comments came across stronger than she intended in the moment. But, maybe not for the Manchester City winger.
Becoming a parent changes how a person sees everything, and some moments only happen once. No version of the story, no matter how it's told later, replaces actually being there.
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 4:01 AM.