French sports presenter France Pierron has apologized after criticizing Belgian forward Jérémy Doku for temporarily leaving Belgium’s national team camp during the FIFA World Cup to be present for the birth of his child.
The controversy began when Pierron questioned the player’s decision to leave the team at such an important stage of the tournament.
“You are living your childhood dream, but you’re going to leave everything to witness the birth of your child—a disgusting moment, if you’ll forgive the expression, where the father is completely useless,” the presenter said.
Her remarks triggered a strong backlash on social media, with fans and commentators arguing that the birth of a child is a once-in-a-lifetime event and fully justified the player’s trip.
Following the negative reaction, the journalist issued a public apology, acknowledging that her comments were inappropriate. She said she had expressed herself poorly and apologized directly to Doku and his family.
According to Pierron, her intention was to discuss the sporting impact of his absence, not to minimize the importance of the personal moment he was experiencing. “These remarks are mine alone and in no way reflect a collective position. I understand that they may have shocked, upset, or hurt some of you, and I am sorry.”
J’y exprimais un avis personnel, dans le cadre d’un échange contradictoire. Ces propos n’engagent que moi et ne reflètent en aucun cas une position collective.
Je comprends qu’ils aient pu choquer, heurter ou blesser certains d’entre vous, et j’en suis désolée.
2/3— ⭐France⭐ Pierron (@francepierron) June 20, 2026
Doku, who plays for Manchester City, received support from numerous fans and fellow professionals following the incident. Many emphasized that footballers also need to balance their careers with family life, especially during significant moments such as the birth of a child.
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Photos: X @francepierron / Instagram @jeremydoku. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
