Jeremy Doku's desire to take leave from Belgian team for baby draws critics

Jeremy Doku, a starting winger on Belgium's World Cup team, wants to be with his wife when she gives birth to their first child.

The only problem is that if Belgium make it out of group play and the knockout round, he would need to return to his country and potentially miss a key match. The expected due date for his wife, Shireen, falls in the second week of July when the quarterfinals are scheduled.

The 24-year-old Doku has drawn criticism for his family-over-nation stand.

Doku, who plays for Manchester City, is resolute in wanting to be with his wife but can't drown out the critics.

"If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many other considerations," Doku told Reuters. "I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we can do."

Speaking Friday, television sports journalist France Pierron made it clear there is only one thing to do: Stay where he is.

"The World Cup is an incredible joy. There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life," she said, as translated from French text posted to the Facebook page of L'Equipe D, a sports media company in France.

"

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.

There are guys who took out loans just to see the match, and you're not going -- all just to cut an umbilical cord."

The post drew hundreds of comments from both women and men, an overwhelming majority taking the side of Doku. One of them was Brahim Asloum, a retired boxer who won the light flyweight gold medal representing France at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"A baby is your entire life. A World Cup is over when it is over," he wrote.

At the World Cup, Belgium are in Group G with New Zealand, Iran and Egypt. All four teams have played one match thus far, each posting a draw.

Belgium tied Egypt at 1-1 on Monday in their opener. Doku started the match and played 85 minutes in his second World Cup appearance for his country.

Belgium will complete the group stage with matches against Iran on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif., and New Zealand on Friday in Vancouver.

The quarterfinals are set for July 9-11, the semifinals for July 14 and the World Cup Final for July 19.

--Field Level Media