TV presenter suspended following 'disgraceful' comments about Belgium's Jeremy Doku
A TV presenter who made comments about Belgian footballer Jeremy Doku after he indicated he'd leave the World Cup to be with his wife while she's giving birth has been suspended.
Someone once said that football isn't a matter of life and death, it's so much more important than that, and while that's a funny line it's really quite wrong when stacked up against the birth of your child.
That's the situation facing Belgian star Doku, whose wife Shireen is due to give birth in July during the latter stages of the tournament.
If Belgium keep progressing then it's highly likely she's going to give birth while he's at the World Cup, unless he takes the entirely understandable decision to leave the tournament and be with his family.
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He may have to leave the World Cup early, but given the circumstances who wouldn't?
According to the Mirror, L'Equipe presenter France Pierron said Doku's behaviour was 'disgraceful' on L'Équipe de Choc
She said: "You can't miss a World Cup. And now, 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."
If she thought people would agree with her she was very much mistaken as the backlash to Pierron has been significant, and Clément Garin reports that she has been suspended from today's (22 June) programme.
Pierron has since apologised and made a statement of her own, saying: "In light of the very numerous reactions following my comments in 'L'Équipe de Choc' regarding Belgian footballer Jérémy Doku, I wish to provide a few clarifications.
"In it, I expressed a personal opinion, within the framework of a debate. In it, I 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.
"I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that.
"My intention has never been to minimize the place or role of fathers with their partner and their child."
In a statement, L'Équipe said: "On Friday, 19 June, during a debate on the show 'L'Équipe de Choc', France Pierron made remarks that shocked many viewers of the L'Équipe channel.
"The team disassociates itself from these remarks which are very far removed from the Group's values and apologizes to the footballer concerned and more generally to its fans."
2026 World Cup results so far
Monday, 22 June
Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, 1-3
Sunday, 21 June
Group E: Ecuador vs Curaçao, 0-0
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, 0-4
Group G: Belgium vs Iran, 0-0
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 4-0
Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 2-2
Saturday, 20 June
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, 3-0
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, 0-1
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, 2-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden, 5-1
Friday, 19 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, 1-0
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, 0-1
Group D: USA vs Australia, 2-0
Thursday 18 June
Group L: Ghana vs Panama, 1-0
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, 1-3
Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, 1-1
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 4-1
Group B: Canada vs Qatar, 6-0
Wednesday, 17 June
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, 1-1
Group L: England vs Croatia, 4-2
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, 3-0
Group J: Austria vs Jordan, 3-1
Tuesday 16 June
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, 2-2
Group I: France vs Senegal, 3-1
Group I: Iraq vs Norway, 1-4
Monday, 15 June
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, 1-0
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, 5-1
Sunday, 14 June
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, 0-1
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, 2-0
Group E: Germany vs Curaçao, 7-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, 2-2
Saturday, 13 June
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, 4-1
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, 1-1
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, 1-1
Friday, 12 June
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, 2-1
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 1-1
Thursday, 11 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, 2-0
Joe Harker