PARIS (AP) 鈥� French sports media leader L鈥櫭塹uipe has disavowed comments by a female presenter who criticized for wanting to leave the to be at the birth of his first child.
L鈥櫭塹uipe also apologized to Doku in a and said the comments by France Pierron did not represent its values.
Pierron described childbirth as 鈥渁 disgusting moment, excuse me, where the dad is useless鈥� when taking part in the television show 鈥淟鈥櫭塹uipe de Choc鈥� on Friday.
鈥淭here are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your place,鈥� she said on the show, reacting to Doku鈥檚 comments in the United States.
Doku鈥檚 wife Shireen is due to give birth to their son in early July when Belgium hopes to be playing in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
鈥淣o one wants to miss a birth,鈥� said the 24-year-old Doku, who is a star in the Belgium squad and
Pierron questioned Doku鈥檚 priorities as he was 鈥渓iving a childhood dream. It might never happen again in your life.鈥�
It was unclear if Pierron would be part of Monday鈥檚 scheduled broadcast of the talk show on the cable channel run by the storied daily sports newspaper.
Doku received support from England forward Ollie Watkins, who was asked about the family choices facing players.
鈥淗e said it only happens once, your first child. Welcoming them to the world is a blessing,鈥� Watkins said during a news conference at the England training camp.
鈥淪omeone labeled it disgusting. And I think for a start that鈥檚 not a way to label a birth. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 anyone else鈥檚 business what he gets up to after training,鈥� Watkins said.
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