Presenter who attacked Jeremy Doku in childbirth row taken off air
French journalist France Pierron is believed to have been taken off air in the wake of criticising Belgium's Jeremy Doku over his decision to return home for the birth of his first child.
The Manchester City star's partner Shireen is heavily pregnant, with a due date in the second week of July - which could yet conflict with Belgium's knockout stage matches.
Doku made public his decision to fly back to Belgium before returning to North America in the eventuality of his side still playing in the tournament, which Pierron expressed her extreme disapproval of.
Pierron's outlet L'Equipe has since shared a curt statement distancing themselves from her comment, while journalist Clement Garin has reported that she has been stood down from Monday's episode of 'L'Equipe De Choc' - translated as 'The Shock Team' - where she had been expected to feature.
The journalist's comments that had first sparked disquiet saw Pierron describe birth as 'disgusting', and deem fathers 'useless' under the circumstances.
'The World Cup is an incredible joy,' she began her argument. 'There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It might never happen again in your life.
France Pierron has been taken off the air after incendiary comments about Jeremy Doku's decision to leave the World Cup for his first child's birth
The Belgium star plans on leaving the tournament briefly if his side progress to the knockout stages of the tournament
'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.
'You are not going to cut an umbilical cord; you can’t miss a World Cup.'
Despite widespread condemnation on her panel, she doubled down, adding: 'He is going to waste 10 hours, he will be exhausted and have an emotional meltdown. Your baby will always be there.'
Pierron later rowed back somewhat on social media, claiming that her 'intention has never been to minimise the place or role of fathers with their partner and their child'.
She continued: 'I was expressing a personal opinion, within the context of a contentious exchange.
'These remarks commit only me and in no way reflect a collective position. I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that.'
Despite the programme providing a platform for spirited debate, L'Equipe's hierarchy made their own position clear with the release of their statement in the aftermath.
'On Friday, June 19, during a debate on the show "L'Équipe de Choc", France Pierron made remarks that shocked many viewers of the L'Équipe channel,' the statement read.
'The team disassociates itself from these remarks which are very far removed from the Group's values and apologizes to the footballer concerned and more generally to its fans.'
Pierron did receive some support from France's association of female sports journalists, who wrote that although they did not defend Pierron's opinions and instead 'totally and unreservedly disapproved', the organisation 'also condemns the harassment she has been subjected to sincerely.'
Doku also received a statement of support from fellow Premier League star Ollie Watkins, with the Aston Villa star asked about Pierron's comments during his England press conference.
Doku has come under fire for saying that he intends to leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child (Doku pictured with wife Shireen)
'I think for a start (disgusting) is not a way to label a birth,' Watkins noted. 'It only happens once, your first child. Welcoming them into the world is a blessing, and you don't get that opportunity (again).
'I see where (Doku) is coming from. I think he has all the right to go back and be there,' he continued, stressing that Doku, a 'very privileged man', would be able to make the journey as quickly and comfortably as possible.
'I'm sure he will have a lot of support to be able to get there as quickly as possible, make sure he's there to support her (wife Shireen), and then fly back out,' he added.
Doku was unavailable for Belgium's second group stage clash with Iran due to illness, with Rudi Garcia's side badly missing the winger.
The Red Devils were held to a 0-0 draw with Iran, narrowly escaping defeat after Iran's neat freekick was deemed offside following a VAR call.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
