Posted on 06/22/2026 6:36:51 AM PDT by Morgana
French journalist France Pierron is believed to have been taken off air in the wake of criticising Belgium's Jeremy Doku over his decision to return home for the birth of his first child.
The Manchester City star's partner Shireen is heavily pregnant, with a due date in the second week of July - which could yet conflict with Belgium's knockout stage matches.
Doku made public his decision to fly back to Belgium before returning to North America in the eventuality of his side still playing in the tournament, which Pierron expressed her extreme disapproval of.
Pierron's outlet L'Equipe has since shared a curt statement distancing themselves from her comment, while journalist Clement Garin has reported that she has been stood down from Monday's episode of 'L'Equipe De Choc' - translated as 'The Shock Team' - where she had been expected to feature.
The journalist's comments that had first sparked disquiet saw Pierron describe birth as 'disgusting', and deem fathers 'useless' under the circumstances.
'The World Cup is an incredible joy,' she began her argument. 'There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life.
'You're living out a childhood dream, yet you're going to walk away from it all to attend the birth of your child - a disgusting moment, if you'll pardon the expression, where the dad is completely useless.
'You are not going to cut an umbilical cord; you can’t miss a World Cup.'
Despite widespread condemnation on her panel, she doubled down, adding: 'He is going to waste 10 hours, he will be exhausted and have an emotional meltdown. Your baby will always be there.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...
My take on this woman is that she is a sports reporter trying to be more masculine than male reporters in her attitude towards sports.
She is proving that she is serious about sports.
She is going to show that she is not a prissy girl.
And the answer actually is yes. The military for decades has made every attempt to make sure daddy was home when his kid arrived. It is just the civilized thing to do.
That’s probably it. She’s just overplaying the part, and taking it to an extreme.
Heavily Pregnant? Is she giving birth to a Ford 150?
Wife said, 'How can you be lightly pregnant?'
Congratulations to them both. Just wondering, are they married? European media even call married couples partners...
In my Ethic 102 class, there are 3 things almost universal:
- no killing for no reason
- respect the old
- cheerish the offspring
That’s just ol’ sexist thinking. Conservative movement thankfully do not promote such idea anymore, that only women is responsible for raising children.
First, it’s not a children’s game, it’s the most popular sport in the world with millions of dollars on the line and teammates and fans that are relying on full participation. The civilized thing for him to have done is declining to participate at the outset of the tournament. Routine childbirth is not classified as a life threatening emergency by the military.
Still a children's game. Adults should probably not get involved with children's game, they quickly become weird about it.
The civilized thing for him to have done is declining to participate at the outset of the tournament.
Why? They have substitutes they can bring in if someone needs to leave. It is not like he is the only player on the team.
Routine childbirth is not classified as a life threatening emergency by the military.
Never said it was. Never the less if some guy's wife is giving birth they will try to get you home in time if they can.
Because they actually understand that family is important and dad being there is important as well.
But I must say after years of hearing bull about "God, Family and Country" from some of the males on FR it is refreshing to hear what they really have as their goals are "Ego Stroke, Dopamine Hit and Bank Account"
Makes a lot of things much more understandable.
So thank you. For drawing a bright clear line between you and actual men.
I guess she thinks he was “punished” with a baby.
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