When Jérémy Doku temporarily left Belgium’s World Cup camp to attend the birth of his first child, he faced sharp criticism including one television presenter’s “outrage” at his decision. But Tim Bechervaise argues that Doku’s choice offered a powerful Christian witness
It’s a story my wife, Laura, and I will never tire of telling.
It was 4:59am when we parked at Barnet Hospital. Arriving at the maternity ward, we were rushed into a side room. I did what I could vaguely recall being told I should do, like helping with breathing. Or at least I tried to, because I was a blubbering mess.
Within minutes, baby Rufus arrived. The tears stopped and I gazed adoringly and bewilderingly at him. It felt as though time had stopped – except it hadn’t, of course, not least because a midwife was furiously pointing at my watch, requesting the time.
“5:10am,” I replied. It all happened in 11 minutes, but it felt much longer.
It’s four months since I became a father, meaning that one of the many contentious issues from an already enthralling World Cup has felt very close to home.
Doku’s decision
It centres on Belgium and Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku’s decision to temporarily leave the World Cup and head back to the UK to be with his wife, Shireen, for the birth of their firstborn.
“I would like to be there. No father would want to miss that,” said Doku, a devout Christian.
A perfectly natural thing to do, you’d say, but not everyone saw it that way.
Peter Janssens, Doku’s old coach, said: “When you go to the World Cup, it’s a choice. It might sound a bit harsh, but if you’re there, it’s because you have chosen to play. The baby will still be there afterwards.”
France Pierron, presenter for French sports outlet L’Equipe, then weighed in – and that’s when the story went global. “This outrages me,” she said. “There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life. 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.”
I was aghast at her words, because they countered everything I experienced four months ago. Even if it was a little messy and I sometimes felt useless, it was beautiful and my family needed me there.
Football is a bit like being on a high-speed train, but there are times when you need to step off and check your perspective
Thankfully, many others agree. Doku and his wife have since welcomed Praise into the world, and his return to the Belgium squad was filmed and shared by the national team, with the superb caption: “Back in camp after the most important assist of his life.”
It echoed the support of many in sport, including footballers such as England’s Ollie Watkins.
Pierron has now apologised, as have L’Equipe, who’ve temporarily suspended her.
Faith, family and football
Going into the World Cup, I anticipated players’ Christian faith to be displayed. Two weeks in, I’ve been stunned at how this unfolded on and off the pitch. Opposing players have prayed together and crowns have been laid down for “The King’s Return” movement – and then there’s Doku, more subtly but no less powerfully, showing that devotion to his family outweighs devotion to football.
With the world watching, what an example this sets – not only to kids who look up to him, but his fellow professionals, giving them license to do what they might have felt afraid to do.
Jamie Carragher, the ex-Liverpool defender turned pundit, said recently: “After Nicola went into labour with our first kid, James, in 2002, I had to decide if I should be at the hospital or at the game. I thought I owed it to the fans to be at the game and I regret that. I didn’t make the same mistake with our second, Mia, born in 2004. Football is a bit like being on a high-speed train, but there are times when you need to step off and check your perspective.”
I wonder if others, in football and beyond, will not even make a first mistake, because of Doku.
Given how open Doku is about his faith – he even did an online Bible study in the days leading up to the tournament – it’s wonderful that people can see that his example centres on Jesus. Following Praise’s birth, he wrote: “Welcoming my son into the world is one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me.”
By showing that a World Cup – the pinnacle of a footballer’s career – cannot stop him from travelling thousands of miles to be with his wife to welcome their child, Doku has reiterated and celebrated the unrivalled sanctity of human life. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” said the psalmist (Psalm 139:14).
It’s quite the story that’s unfolded for Doku – one he’ll no doubt never tire of telling.
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