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.'
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Yea that movie is fiction and even gruesome those two women showed more compassion to unborn life than this broad did.
She should have flown here and had the baby here.
What started as a competition among some feminists to outdo one another has evolved into a clearly defined condition.
They have become retarded.
“Shireen is heavily pregnant”? Is she expecting a large litter?
” a disgusting moment, excuse my language, where the father is useless, he’s just an extra.” We are not excusing her language. It appears to accurately reflect her thinking. She was probably okay right up until she said this part.
Heh heh...I see what you did there!
Five things you don’t know about this person...
https://youtube.com/shorts/uNUJN7vC_KY?si=F6JSnWewUxCKwK1m
YouTube short. In French, but the pics reveal quite a bit.
It sounds like that reporter has certain personal issues against fathers or men in general. Heavy emotional baggage.
**I refused to even consider going to see that movie
Kill Bill when it came out, because not only was it named “KILL BILL”, Quintin (10 Kegs of Fake Blood per scene + Gratuitous Profanity + Racial pandering) Tarratino was the director. Just not my cuppa tea. But then, I also refused to watch that TV Show Dexter, which i considered morally ambiguous.
The posts on this story will be interesting to read. My initial reaction was that Pierron was wrong to say what she said. But when I thought about it more, I actually think she's making a conservative case. We have way too many fathers in the workplace taking "paternity leave" when their wives have babies to be home. It has created a generational debate in our office that crosses gender lines. Older men and women are outright disdainful of the concept. Younger men and women support it. I have a female colleague who is 60 and one who is 54 who roll their eyes when a young man takes paternity leave. They both talk about how they were taking work calls two days after they had their babies. I'm in the "older" group and don't like the idea either. So put me down on the side of Pierron being right. The father is useless in these situations. The father needs to go to work and earn money. Support the family. Be an alpha male. I'm being a little tongue-in-cheek but its basically the way I feel.
She’s a “birthing person”
C’mon man.
Useless unless unknown complications render him a decision maker.
I get your point, but the pregnancy didn’t just pop up last week and the gestational period is a well known length.
He could have allowed another player to be on the team in his place.
The French journo chick is just po’d she didn’t have an abortion.
EC
She should be fired.
Nope. she can stay where she is.
You and the presenter are correct, he should support his team which is in danger of elimination. I assume he’s announcing his plans should the situation arise, in which a quick trip is understandable if it doesn’t conflict.
But if he’s leaving now for a birth planned 2-3 weeks from now.....
Belgium’s WCuppers are highly rated and were expected to advance past group stage but may not unless they handily defeat lowly New Zealand Friday. So far, 2 matches, 2 draws.
As for birthing being “disgusting”...that’s another matter.
I don’t think being present during the birth of his child equates with the kind of ‘paternity leave’ often practiced now.
Didn’t look like it.
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