RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Belgian football federation congratulated Jérémy Doku on the birth of his son, Praise, on Monday, one day after a French media organisation’s apology following a commentator criticising the player’s intention to leave the World Cup for the birth.Doku missed the team’s 0-0 draw against Iran on Sunday because of a respiratory illness, but was cleared to fly back to London so he could be with his wife.

Manchester City star Jeremy Doku was bizarrely ripped apart over leaving Belgium's World Cup squad to be there for the birth of his first child

The winger said his wife Shireen is due to give birth during the second week of July — which would coincide with the quarter-final stage.