England star leaps to Doku's defence amid World Cup childbirth controversy

22 Jun 2026 14:02 BST |
5 min read

Cameron Smith
|
Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

England striker Ollie Watkins has leapt to the defence of Jeremy Doku after the Belgium winger received heavy criticism for saying that he would leave the World Cup to be present at the birth of his first child.

Doku, 24, missed Belgium’s 0-0 draw versus Iran on Sunday through illness, but he has been at the centre of a major World Cup controversy for a different reason in recent days.

The Manchester City star is set to become a father for the first time before the end of the tournament, with his wife Shireen currently pregnant and due to give birth at the start of July, and he recently admitted that he will leave Belgium’s camp to be with his family.

“It depends on when it happens, but it’s my first child, so I ‌would ⁠definitely want to be there,” Doku explained. “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child.

“But I also know that football involves many ⁠other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We’ll see what we can do.”

Following Doku’s admission, L’Equipe journalist France Pierron took aim at the Belgium star, thundering: “You can’t miss a World Cup. You’re not going to the match to cut an umbilical cord?

“You have the chance to participate in a World Cup, and there are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your place, but you’re going to leave all that to go and witness the birth of your child, which is a disgusting moment, excuse me, where the father is useless. He has a role as an extra.

“The midwife doesn’t know how to do it? Meanwhile, you’re going to waste 10 hours, you’re going to get exhausted, you’re going to have an emotional meltdown, you’re going to be completely deflated for the World Cup.”

Ollie Watkins defends Jeremy Doku

Speaking to reporters ahead of England’s second group stage game against Ghana on Tuesday, Watkins was asked about the incident and refused to hold back in his defence of Doku.

“Someone labelled it ‘disgusting.’ For a start, that’s not a way to label a birth,” the Aston Villa striker said.

“I have two kids. I’ve seen what my wife had to go through in birth, and that was quite smooth sailing. I know family members and friends that haven’t had it that way. Your first child, welcoming them to the world is a blessing.

“There’s a lot of times where you’re away from family and friends during the season and it’s very difficult periods. So to miss that would be tough. I see where he (Doku) is coming from. He has all (every) right to go back and be there.

“We’re very privileged men at the end of the day, and I’m sure he will have a lot of support to get there as quickly as possible, make sure he’s there to support her and then fly back out. I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business what he gets up to after training. If he goes back and does that, I think that’s fair enough.

“I would want to do it. I’ve got two kids and I don’t see the problem with it.”

Pierron later apologised for her comments, but reports in the French media suggest that she has been taken off L’Equipe’s coverage with immediate effect.

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