RENTON, Wash. (AP) 鈥� The Belgian soccer federation congratulated J茅r茅my Doku on the birth of his son, Praise, on Monday, one day after a French media organization’s apology following a commentator criticizing the player’s intention to leave the to welcome his first child.
Doku missed the on Sunday because of a respiratory illness, but was cleared to fly back to London so he could be with his wife.
鈥淎s he had already been receiving the appropriate medical treatment for several days, he was able to fly without any medical risk in order to be with his family during this very special moment,鈥� Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene said in a statement. 鈥淗e was accompanied by my colleague, Dr. Brecht De Coninck. Everything went perfectly, and the mother, father, and baby are all doing wonderfully. J茅r茅my will rejoin the group tomorrow evening in Seattle.鈥�
French sports daily L鈥橢quipe disavowed remarks by a female commentator who criticized Doku for wanting to leave the World Cup for the birth.
L鈥橢quipe 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� during an appearance on the television show 鈥淟鈥橢quipe de Choc鈥� on Friday.
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said he and other players congratulated Doku and his wife via text. Doku was not present for the portion of Monday’s practice at the training facility of Major League Soccer鈥檚 Seattle Sounders that was open to the media.
鈥淚 think having a child is the most beautiful thing in the world that you can have, and being there, it’s more than normal as a dad, as a mom, obviously,鈥� Tielemans said. 鈥淏ut yeah, being there as a dad, for myself, I have three and it’s memories you can’t take back. So, yeah, very happy for him.鈥�
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