"It only happens once, your first child." Ollie Watkins didn't mince words on Sunday — and he didn't need to. The debate over whether Jeremy Doku should leave the World Cup to witness the birth of his first child shouldn't really be a debate at all.
The Aston Villa striker, himself a father of two, came out firmly in Doku's corner after French TV presenter France Pierron described childbirth as a "disgusting moment where the dad is completely useless" — and said the Belgium winger's desire to be there "outrages" her. Pierron has since apologised, but the damage was done, and Watkins made clear where he stands.
"I think for a start, 'disgusting' is not a way to label a birth," Watkins said. "Welcoming them into the world is a blessing, and you don't get that opportunity again."
Doku's situation
The 24-year-old Manchester City winger is a central figure for Belgium at this World Cup, playing 86 minutes in their 1-1 opener against Egypt. His wife Shireen is due to give birth in the second week of July — right around the quarter-final stage, if Belgium make it that far. Belgian media report a private plane to England, where the birth is expected, would be arranged to minimise time away from the tournament.
Doku was straightforward about his priorities: "It's my first child, so I would definitely want to be there."
The logistics are manageable. A private jet, a day or two away, and back on the pitch. For a player of Doku's profile and wage bracket, the practical barriers are minimal. The moral question shouldn't exist.
Watkins would do exactly the same
What gives Watkins' defence weight is that it's not abstract. He's been there. He knows what it costs to be away from family across a football season — the missed birthdays, the school runs that don't happen, the ordinary moments that pile up into something significant over time.
"There's a lot of times where you're away from family and friends during the season, and it's very difficult periods," he said. "So, to miss that would be tough."
He left no room for ambiguity on what he'd choose: "I would want to do it. I don't see the problem with it."
Belgium's odds in the knockout rounds won't shift based on whether Doku takes 48 hours to fly home and back. What matters more is whether their squad can convert draws into wins. A 1-1 against Egypt already has Belgian fans watching the group table carefully. That's the actual story worth debating.
As for the rest — Watkins said it best. "I don't think it's anyone else's business."
