TV host apologises after telling World Cup star to miss birth of his child

Jérémy Doku is one of Belgium’s star players at the 2026 World Cup (Photo: Getty)

A French TV presenter has issued an apology after criticising Jeremy Doku for wanting to leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child.

L’Equipe channel presenter France Pierron said she was ‘outraged’ that Belgium star could leave the tournament and claimed ‘the father serves no purpose’ during childbirth.

Doku’s wife Shireen is due to give birth in the second week of July, when the quarter-finals of the World Cup are due to be played and Belgium have a decent chance of making it to that stage.

Last week, the Manchester City winger made clear his in...