Jeremy Doku has become a father, the Belgian football association announced Monday, days after the player’s plans to leave the World Cup to be there for the birth sparked controversy.
After 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, it said.
“Jeremy received the news before yesterday’s match that the birth was imminent,” the team’s doctor Brahim Hacene said.
Doku had already been ruled out of Sunday’s match due to illness.
“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,” the doctor said.
