Jeremy Doku is set to rejoin Belgium’s lineup for their decisive World Cup group stage encounter after making a brief return to London for the birth of his son.
The 24-year-old Belgian winger faced criticism from a French broadcaster for his choice to step away from the team before their goalless match against Iran on Sunday.
His wife, Shireen, was initially expected to deliver the baby during the second week of July. However, the news of the imminent arrival reached Doku while the Manchester City playmaker was in Los Angeles over the weekend.
Due to a respiratory issue, Doku was already sidelined from Belgium’s recent match but received clearance from the medical staff to make the journey back to the UK.
The couple has now joyously welcomed their healthy son, Praise, even though he was born a bit earlier than anticipated.
Doku will now travel back to Seattle, where the Belgian squad are based, ahead of their clash with New Zealand in Vancouver on Friday.
Jeremy Doku is expected to travel back to the United States in time for Belgium’s final group game
The Man City star, 24, returned to London to welcome his first child with his wife Shireen
The Belgian FA said in a statement: ‘Jeremy received news before yesterday’s match that the birth was imminent.
‘As he had already been receiving appropriate medical treatment for several days, he was able to fly without medical risk to be with his family during this very special moment.
‘He was accompanied by my colleague, Dr. Brecht De Coninck. Everything went perfectly, and the mother, father, and baby are all doing wonderfully. Jeremy will rejoin the squad tomorrow (Tuesday) evening in Seattle.’
Doku made it clear that he had no intention of missing the birth of his first child during an interview with Reuters ahead of the tournament.
‘It depends on when it happens,’ he said, ‘but it’s my first child, so I would definitely want to be there.
‘I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We’ll see what we can do.’
However, French journalist France Pierron launched an extraordinary rant when she heard news that Doku would be temporarily leaving the Belgian squad.
The L-Equipe reporter described his decision as ‘disgusting’, and claimed fathers are ‘useless’ during childbirth.
‘The World Cup is an incredible joy,’ she began her argument. ‘There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life.
‘You’re living out a childhood dream, yet you’re going to walk away from it all to attend the birth of your child – a disgusting moment, if you’ll pardon the expression, where the dad is completely useless.
‘You are not going to cut an umbilical cord; you can’t miss a World Cup.’
A number of footballers rallied around Doku in the wake of Pierron’s comments, including England forward Ollie Watkins.
‘I think for a start (disgusting) is not a way to label a birth,’ Watkins noted. ‘It only happens once, your first child. Welcoming them into the world is a blessing, and you don’t get that opportunity (again).
‘I see where (Doku) is coming from. I think he has all the right to go back and be there,’ he continued, stressing that Doku, a ‘very privileged man’, would be able to make the journey as quickly and comfortably as possible.
‘I’m sure he will have a lot of support to be able to get there as quickly as possible, make sure he’s there to support her (wife Shireen), and then fly back out,’ he added.
Belgium sit third in Group G heading into their crunch match against New Zealand on Friday, and require a win to secure their qualification to the knockouts.
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