Jeremy Doku, the Belgium winger who plays for Manchester City, has said he holds no personal animus towards a journalist who publicly attacked his decision to leave Belgium’s World Cup camp to be present for the birth of his first child.
Player defends family choice and calls for measured response
Doku explained his position in a video posted to his YouTube channel, describing the intense reaction to his trip home as “a lot of noise” and acknowledging why some people questioned the timing. He said he did not wish to inflame further hostility directed at the presenter and instead asked for compassion when assessing her comments.
“I can understand why people felt like maybe this was orchestrated because it was too perfect,”
He added that he did not want people to be excessively harsh and stressed that he was “not against” the journalist. Doku said he preferred not to compound the situation, noting he did not know what the presenter had experienced and that she had a right to her opinion.
Sequence of events and institutional responses
According to reports, the controversy began when a presenter on the L’Equipe channel labelled a father “completely useless” for leaving a national team camp to attend a birth. The broadcaster later issued an apology, saying the comments were “very far removed” from its values. The presenter herself also apologised and was removed from the air until the end of the season.
Doku travelled back to London during the tournament to be with his wife, Shireen, who was due in the second week of July. He missed Belgium’s 0-0 draw with Iran in the group stage but had played 86 minutes of the opening 1-1 draw with Egypt. Belgium subsequently issued a statement confirming the 24-year-old’s travel to London was made “with the approval of and accompanied by one of our team doctors.”
Underlying tensions: family rights, squad duty and media scrutiny
The incident highlights a recurring tension in elite sport between players’ private lives and public expectations during major tournaments. From a team-management perspective, Belgium framed Doku’s travel as authorised and medically supervised, implicitly recognising the legitimacy of his family priority. From a media angle, the harsh reaction from a broadcaster presenter — and the subsequent institutional apology and sanction — demonstrates how quickly commentary can provoke reputational consequences in a high-profile environment.
- Player action: Doku left the Belgium camp to be present for the birth of his son, Praise.
- Team response: Belgium said the trip was approved and accompanied by a team doctor.
- Media fallout: L’Equipe apologised; the presenter apologised and was taken off air until season end.
What remains unsettled
While Doku has sought to cool tensions by declining to attack the journalist, the episode raises questions about the culture of sports broadcasting and how outlets moderate commentary during emotionally charged events. It also illustrates how social media and public reaction can escalate disputes rapidly, sometimes resulting in personnel sanctions and public apologies.
The immediate practical impact on Belgium’s campaign was limited: Doku participated in the opening game and missed one group match. The longer-term implications are less tangible but include possible shifts in editorial oversight at broadcasters, and a reminder to players, teams and journalists of the reputational risks inherent in high-profile commentary.
For now, Doku has emphasised family priorities and asked for restraint. Whether broadcasters and the wider sporting public take that message to heart remains to be seen.
