Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku is drawing criticism after announcing he plans to leave Belgium’s World Cup squad to be present for the birth of his first child. Multiple reports say the backlash stems from comments attributed to an L’Equipe journalist, who publicly raised concerns about Doku’s decision. The criticisms described in the articles include strong negative reactions to the choice to step away from the tournament for family reasons.
In response to the wider controversy, Doku is reported to have addressed the situation, stating his intention to attend the birth. One outlet also reports that a pundit later apologises after telling the player he should not leave to attend the birth, indicating that the discussion extends beyond the initial journalist remarks.
Across the coverage, the core dispute centres on whether leaving an international tournament for childbirth is appropriate, with reactions varying from criticism to correction and apology by commentators. The reports consistently frame Doku as a Manchester City player competing for Belgium at the World Cup and highlight the timing of his planned departure around the birth of his child.
