French sports daily L’Équipe has issued a formal apology to Belgium winger Jérémy Doku after one of its presenters described childbirth as a “disgusti
French sports daily L’Équipe has issued a formal apology to Belgium winger Jérémy Doku after one of its presenters described childbirth as a “disgusting moment” and questioned his decision to leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child. The broadcaster distanced itself from the remarks, stressing they did not reflect its values
The Controversy
The incident began when L’Équipe de Choc presenter France Pierron criticised Doku’s plan to return home in July for the birth of his son, which coincides with the World Cup knockout stages. Pierron argued that the father is “useless” during childbirth and suggested Doku was abandoning a “childhood dream” by prioritising family over football.
Her comments, including describing childbirth as “disgusting,” sparked outrage across social media and among fellow journalists, who condemned the remarks as insensitive and backward.
L’Équipe’s Response
Facing widespread backlash, L’Équipe released a statement on Sunday apologising directly to Doku and clarifying that Pierron’s views did not represent the organisation’s values.
The broadcaster emphasised its respect for family commitments and distanced itself from the controversial remarks.
Pierron herself later issued a personal apology, acknowledging that her comments may have “shocked, hurt, or wounded” viewers and insisting she had only been expressing a personal opinion within the framework of a debate.
Impact on Doku and Belgium
Doku, a 24-year-old Manchester City forward, has been open about his desire to be present for the birth of his first child, stating, “No father would want to miss that.”
He missed Belgium’s 0-0 draw with Iran due to illness, leaving his team with just two points from their opening two matches. Belgium now faces a crucial final group game against New Zealand, with qualification to the knockout stages at stake.
The controversy has highlighted the tension between professional obligations and personal milestones, with many fellow players, including England’s Ollie Watkins, publicly supporting Doku’s choice to prioritise family.
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