France Pierron Apologizes After Saying Jeremy Doku, 24, Should Skip Childbirth for World Cup
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 21
France Pierron Apologizes After Saying Jeremy Doku, 24, Should Skip Childbirth for World Cup
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 21
Summary
Pierron apologized after saying on L’Equipe that Doku should not leave Belgium’s World Cup camp for his first child’s birth because “the father serves no purpose.”
Doku, 24, had said before Belgium’s opener against Egypt that he wanted to be present if the baby arrived during the tournament and that the federation knew of the situation.
The remarks fed a backlash that had already spread in Belgium, with former international Gert Verheyen and youth coach Peter Janssens arguing that a World Cup should take priority.
The dispute has widened into a broader debate over whether elite athletes should miss major events for family milestones, with similar cases cited across football, basketball and other sports.