Sportscaster Apologizes for Calling Childbirth 'Disgusting,' Saying World Cup Player Shouldn't Miss Game for His Baby's Birth
Sportscaster Apologizes for Calling Childbirth 'Disgusting,' Saying World Cup Player Shouldn't Miss Game for His Baby's Birth
Anna Lazarus CaplanMon, June 22, 2026 at 5:05 PM UTC
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France Pierron, Jeremy DokuCredit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty -
A French sportscaster is apologizing
France Pierron criticized a Belgian soccer player's decision to leave the World Cup for the birth of his son
“It’s my first child, so I would definitely want to be there," Jeremy Doku said
A French broadcaster is walking back her comments after she criticized a Belgian soccer player’s decision to leave the World Cup for the birth of his son.
"You have to realize that it’s truly a privilege to participate in a World Cup, it’s an incredible joy,” Channel L'Equipe presenter France Pierron said during an on-air appearance. “There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life.”
She added, “It’s truly a special moment, a childhood dream come true. 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."
The Manchester City forward, 24, previously told Reuters that he plans to leave the World Cup when his wife Shireen Doku goes into labor next month.
“It’s my first child, so I would definitely want to be there,” Doku said last week.
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Jeremy DokuCredit: Dale MacMillan/Soccrates/Getty
After online pushback and widespread criticism, L’Equipe also responded about Pierron’s take, saying it “disassociates itself” from the comments, which were “very far removed from the group’s values,” The Athletic reported.
On X, Pierron also clarified that she was “expressing a personal opinion, within the context of a contentious exchange."
“These remarks commit only me and in no way reflect a collective position,” she wrote. “I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that.”
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Doku, who played 86 minutes in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt, missed the Iran match on Sunday, June 21 due to respiratory illness. His status for the next match against New Zealand is uncertain.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
