Jeremy Doku’s short flight says everything about modern footballers

The absurdity of the Doku discourse

Jeremy Doku has found himself at the center of a bizarre media storm this week. The Manchester City winger departed the Belgium World Cup camp under emergency circumstances to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, Praise. While family milestones traditionally warrant a pass in professional sports, the reaction from certain corners of the European media has veered into the pathological.

A French presenter recently savaged the 24-year-old for his decision to prioritize his family over the national team's preparation. This critique ignores the logistical reality of the 2026 tournament. Doku left the camp in time to witness the birth in London and is scheduled to return for Belgium's next match, according to reports published by the Daily Mail. Traveling between a tournament base and London is no longer the marathon it once was.

Tactical availability versus human reality

The underlying complaint seems to be that Doku's absence affected Belgium’s performance against Iran. The match finished in a 0-0 draw, a result that has critics pointing fingers at his lack of involvement in training sessions leading up to the fixture. It is a reductive argument that treats athletes as automatons rather than humans.

Doku is a specialized wide player whose utility is defined by his explosive acceleration into the final third. He provides lateral stretch that most players cannot replicate. However, if a team’s offensive output hinges entirely on the presence of one winger for three days of tactical drills, the manager has deeper structural issues that a flight home for a birth did not create.

The scrutiny of the elite athlete

As The Mirror reported, the criticism directed at Doku for leaving the camp is symptomatic of a culture that demands total fealty to the badge. The expectation is that players should operate in a vacuum, divorced from their personal responsibilities. It is a demand that has grown increasingly detached from the reality of the modern game.

We saw this before. During previous tournaments, players like Fabian Delph and others faced similar scrutiny for stepping away from minor training sessions. The irony is that players are often criticized for lack of character, yet when they exhibit the human capacity to prioritize their children, they are labeled distracted. It is a classic 'damned if you do' trap maintained by pundits clinging to an archaic view of professional sporting sacrifice.

Performance markers remain intact

If we examine the tape, Doku’s return is expected in short order. He has not effectively checked out of the tournament. The Metro confirmed that his path back to the squad remains clear, assuming no unforeseen delays. His physical metrics—sprint speed, high-intensity distance covered—are unlikely to suffer from a 48-hour period spent away from the group.

If Belgium cannot bypass Iran’s defensive block, the fault lies with the creation and the fluidity in the middle of the park. Creating a scapegoat out of a new father is lazy analysis. It shields the coaching staff from questions regarding the stagnant passing patterns seen on Monday. Footballers are employees, but they are not the property of their national federations to the point of denying them the birth of their children. Doku did exactly what any professional with a shred of integrity would do. The media needs to catch up to the 21st century.