Jeremy Doku has said he is “not against” France Pierron, the L’Equipe presenter who publicly criticised his plan to leave Belgium’s World Cup camp to be present for the birth of his first child. The Manchester City winger emphasised he does not want the journalist to be treated harshly after the incident prompted an apology from the broadcaster and temporary removal of the presenter from air.
- Jeremy Doku said he is "not against" France Pierron after she criticised his plan to attend his child's birth during the World Cup.
- L'Equipe apologised for Pierron's remarks and the presenter was taken off air until the end of the season of her show, according to reporting.
- Belgium explained Doku travelled to London to be with his wife with approval and medical accompaniment; his absence from the Iran game was reported as illness.
What Doku said and where it came from
Doku addressed the fallout on his YouTube channel, acknowledging the controversy and describing how it created “a lot of noise” around his family plans. He said he could understand why some people thought the timing might look “orchestrated” and that he had seen the presenter criticise him. But Doku added he hoped people would not be excessively harsh toward her and that he was “not angry” and “not against her,” calling her remarks an opinion.
The broadcaster's response and consequences
French sports channel L’Equipe issued an apology after presenter France Pierron’s comments sparked outrage. The broadcaster said Pierron’s remarks were “very far removed” from its values. Pierron also apologised; according to reporting she was subsequently taken off air until the end of the season of her show. Those details about L’Equipe’s apology and Pierron’s suspension are reported by BBC Sport and carried in other outlets.
What actually happened during the World Cup
Before the tournament began, Doku told reporters he intended to return to the United Kingdom for the birth of his child even if Belgium were still competing. During the World Cup he started Belgium’s opening Group G match, playing 86 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Egypt. He did not feature in the subsequent match against Iran; team communications gave illness as the reason for his absence, and the Royal Belgian Football Association later said he travelled to London to be with his wife “with the approval of and accompanied by one of our team doctors.”
How the debate unfolded
Coverage of the episode divided into two linked but separate threads: a discussion about a player’s personal priorities and a debate over a journalist’s language and the consequences that followed. Pierron’s on-air description — reported as labelling a father “completely useless” at the time of childbirth — provoked strong reaction from viewers and figures across football. L’Equipe’s apology and the presenter’s removal from air reflect how broadcasters sometimes respond when remarks are judged inconsistent with editorial standards or public expectations.
Why this matters for clubs, players and media
- Player welfare and personal life: High-profile players increasingly assert family responsibilities during major tournaments. Clubs and national teams must balance squad needs with players’ off-field lives; Belgium’s statement that Doku travelled with a team doctor indicates one approach to managing that balance.
- Media ethics and consequences: The case shows how broadcasters manage presenter behaviour after controversial comments. Apologies and temporary suspensions are common immediate actions while organisations assess reputational damage and internal policy breaches.
- Public debate and online reactions: The situation demonstrates how quickly disagreements can escalate online, with Doku explicitly asking for restraint toward the presenter despite the criticism aimed at her.
Timeline of key events (as reported)
- Before the World Cup began: Doku stated publicly he intended to attend the birth of his first child in the UK even if Belgium remained in the competition (reported by Reuters and cited in coverage).
- Group stage, first match: Doku played 86 minutes in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt.
- Shortly afterwards: French presenter France Pierron criticised Doku on air; reports say she described a father as “completely useless” during childbirth.
- L’Equipe issued an apology and said Pierron’s comments were not in line with its values; Pierron apologised and was taken off air until the end of the season of her show.
- Doku missed the group game against Iran and later travelled to London to be with his wife, a move described by Belgium’s staff as approved and accompanied by a team doctor.
- August 2026: Doku posted on YouTube reiterating he was “not against” the journalist and asking for people to be less harsh toward her.
What comes next
From a sporting perspective, Doku returned to the squad after the childbirth episode and continued to be available for Belgium selection; media reports indicate he was part of the squad that progressed to the quarter-finals. For broadcasters and sports organisations, the episode is likely to prompt continued internal reflection about editorial oversight, presentational standards and how to handle social media fallout after inflammatory remarks.
Practical implications for fans and clubs
Fans following Doku’s career — at club or international level — should expect selection decisions to be framed around fitness and team needs, not solely personal life events. Clubs will continue to work with national teams to manage player availability around family events; Belgium’s medical approval of Doku’s trip back to the UK is one example of that coordination.
“I don’t want people to be too harsh on her… I’m not against her. I’m not angry at her or anything. She just said her opinion.”
That sentence appears in reports of Doku’s YouTube remarks and is included here to reflect his public posture toward the presenter and the controversy.
Coverage of this episode has appeared in BBC Sport and other outlets, which reported Doku’s comments and the broadcaster response. Where statements or actions are attributed here — such as L’Equipe’s apology, Pierron’s temporary removal from air, and the Belgian FA’s note on medical accompaniment — they reflect reporting from those sources.