L’Equipe apologises to Belgian footballer Jérémy Doku for presenter’s comments

French media outlet distanced itself from criticism of Doku’s plan to fly back from World Cup for birth of first child

The French media outlet L’Équipe has apologised to the Belgian footballer Jérémy Doku after he was criticised by one of its pundits for saying he would duck out of the World Cup to be present at the birth of his first child.

News of the apology came as the Belgian football federation said Doku had made it back to London in time to be with his wife Shireen, who gave birth to a boy called Praise ⁠on Monday.