Ollie Watkins defends Jeremy Doku after criticism over childbirth decision
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has slammed the backlash directed at Jeremy Doku, who faced criticism for planning to leave the Belgium camp for the birth of his child.
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Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has strongly condemned the media backlash surrounding Jeremy Doku’s decision to temporarily leave Belgium’s World Cup camp for the birth of his first child. The controversy arose after a television presenter described the birth process as a "disgusting moment" where a father is essentially useless.
Speaking ahead of England’s group stage clash against Ghana, Watkins, a father of two, rejected the criticism. "Someone labelled it disgusting and I think for a start that's not a way to label a birth. Welcoming them to the world is a blessing – you don't get that opportunity often," the striker stated.
Watkins emphasized that the personal nature of such a life event should be respected regardless of professional commitments. "We're very privileged men at the end of the day and I'm sure he will have a lot of support to be able to get back and get there as quickly as possible. I don't think it's anyone else's business what he gets up to after training," he added.
The controversy began during a debate on L'Equipe de Choc, where journalist France Pierron suggested it was a privilege to be at a World Cup and that a player should not miss it for a birth. Both the outlet and the journalist have since issued apologies for the remarks.
Belgium currently finds themselves in a precarious position at the tournament after successive draws against Egypt and Iran. The Red Devils now face a must-win final group fixture against New Zealand to secure their place in the knockout stages.