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The Fatherhood Decision Amidst World Cup PressureJeremy Doku has become a father, the Belgian Football Association announced, days after the player's plans to leave the FIFA World Cup to attend his child's birth sparked controversy. The 24-year-old winger, regarded as one of Belgium's best young players, had previously indicated his desire to be present for the birth of his first child, drawing criticism from some quarters despite the eventual support from medical staff and team management.Family Milestone During TournamentAfter consultations with medical staff, Doku was allowed to temporarily leave the Red Devils before last Sunday's game with Iran to join his wife in London, where the couple welcomed a baby boy, Praise, the federation said on Monday. "Jeremy received the news before yesterday's match that the birth was imminent," the team's doctor, Brahim Hacene, said. "As he had already been receiving the appropriate medical treatment for several days, he was able to fly without any medical risk to be with his family during this very special moment.""Mother, father, and baby are all doing wonderfully," the doctor added. Doku, who had already been ruled out of Sunday's match due to illness, is to rejoin his teammates in Seattle on Tuesday.Tournament Performance and Team StandingBelgium, who are rebuilding after their "golden generation" showed that age had caught up with them in exiting at the group stage in the 2022 World Cup, have made a solid if unspectacular start to their campaign, drawing both their matches so far. The lacklustre scoreless draw against Iran in Los Angeles drew scorn from Belgian media, which lambasted the team's performance.Doku started in Belgium's first match against Egypt, but struggled to make an impact before being replaced. The team can assure themselves of progressing to the last 32 with a win over New Zealand in their final group match on Friday.Public Reaction and Media BacklashA presenter on L'Equipe TV, the channel of the historic French sports newspaper, questioned Doku's decision, saying that fathers were "useless" at childbirth, whereas hundreds of footballers would have killed to play in a World Cup. The comments triggered an online storm, forcing L'Equipe to apologise and distance itself from them. The presenter has been stood down from her show following the backlash.Balancing Professional and Personal Life in Modern SportsThe controversy surrounding Doku's decision highlights the ongoing debate about athletes' rights to balance professional commitments with significant personal milestones. As sports organizations increasingly recognize the importance of mental health and family wellbeing, cases like Doku's may become more common, challenging traditional expectations of athlete availability during major tournaments.