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Belgium Player Leaves World Cup to Attend Childbirth
Jeremy Doku left the Belgium squad to join his wife in London for the birth of their son. The Belgian Football Association said the player will rejoin the team on Tuesday.
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Belgium forward Jeremy Doku left the national team camp to attend the birth of his first child in London. The Belgian Football Association announced on Monday that the couple welcomed a baby boy named Praise. Doku had already been ruled out of Sunday's match against Iran due to illness.
Team doctor Brahim Hacene said Doku received clearance to travel after several days of medical treatment. "Jeremy received the news before yesterday's match that the birth was imminent," the doctor said.
A presenter on French channel L'Equipe TV questioned the decision, stating that fathers were "useless" at childbirth. The comments drew online criticism and prompted the network to apologize and remove the presenter from her program. Doku started Belgium's opening match against Egypt but was substituted.
The team drew its first two group matches and plays New Zealand on Friday. A win would secure advancement to the round of 32.
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