Ollie Watkins, the England striker, has stepped forward to support Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku. Doku currently faces harsh public criticism for his plan to step away from the World Cup next month to attend the birth of his first child.
The 24-year-old athlete expects the arrival of his child with his wife during the second week of July, potentially overlapping with the tournament’s quarter-finals. This timing ignited significant backlash, including sharp comments from L’Equipe presenter France Pierron.
Watkins, who is a father himself, rejected the negative narrative surrounding his colleague’s priorities. He noted that the birth of a first child is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime event and criticized those calling the decision unacceptable. Speaking on the matter, the Aston Villa forward defended Doku’s choice to put his family first, stating that such personal matters are not up for public debate.
Reports indicate that a pundit has since retracted their earlier harsh remarks as the controversy continues to unfold. This follows news that a presenter involved in the dispute has been suspended from their role.
