Journalist who criticized Doku’s decision to witness his child’s birth is suspended

French broadcaster La Chaîne L’Équipe has suspended presenter France Pierron following criticism about Belgium winger Jérémy Doku and his decision to leave the national team’s World Cup camp for the birth of his child

Pierron will not present Monday’s edition of L’Équipe de Choc, the debate programme where she made the comments, after backlash over her on-air statement questioning the role of fathers during childbirth.

The controversy began during a live discussion on June 19, when panelists debated Doku’s plan to briefly leave Belgium’s World Cup squad in July for the expected birth of his first child. His partner is due around the same period the quarter-finals are scheduled.

Pierron argued that the Belgian forward would be sacrificing a major career opportunity, adding that fathers are not essential during labour and only serve as “extra support,” comments that immediately drew criticism on set and online.

Former French boxer Brahim Asloum, who was also on the panel, strongly disagreed, insisting that the arrival of a child is a life-defining moment.

Doku, 24, had earlier acknowledged the difficult balance between family and football, saying: “Nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many other considerations.”

Following the backlash, internal tensions reportedly emerged at the broadcaster over how the situation was handled, including claims that management initially delayed removing the viral content before later ordering its takedown.