France's Top Sports Daily Apologizes to Jérémy Doku, Suspends Journalist

France's leading sports daily, L'Equipe, has issued a formal apology to Belgian international Jérémy Doku. The apology comes after a journalist from the publication criticized the Manchester City winger for potentially returning home to attend the birth of his first child.

Doku, whose wife Shireen is due in July, might miss a knockout stage match. The 24-year-old told Belgian media in Seattle, "It depends on when it happens, but it's my first child, so I definitely want to be there."

During the program "L'Equipe de Choc," journalist France Pierron expressed her bewilderment at Doku's decision. "When you have a chance to participate in a World Cup, there are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your place; it's a childhood dream," Pierron stated. "And you're going to leave all that behind to attend the birth of your child, which is a disgusting moment – excuse me – where the father 'has no say and no primary role,'" she added.

Her comments were met with a torrent of criticism, leading to Pierron's removal from Monday's broadcast, despite her subsequent apology for the remarks.

"L'Equipe distances itself from these comments, which are far from the Group's values, and apologizes to the footballer concerned and, more broadly, to its viewers," the media outlet said in a statement on Sunday.

The official French association of women sports journalists also criticized the remarks while condemning the insults directed at Pierron.