Wednesday, 24 June 2026
DUCATI STATEMENT REVEALS HINT INTO PEDRO ACOSTA MOTOGP SIGNING
Ducati calls Pedro Acosta “one of the most talented riders in MotoGP” after confirming the KTM rider’s signature
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| Pedro Acosta, 2026 Czech MotoGP. © Gold and Goose |
Ducati admits that signing Pedro Acosta was a target “for some time” after finally confirming the KTM rider for the 2027 MotoGP season.
Acosta has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Italian manufacturer, where he will replace the outgoing Francesco Bagnaia, who is expected to join Aprilia Racing.
Ducati announced Bagnaia’s departure on Wednesday morning, before confirming the news that had been expected since the opening few races of 2026.
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| Pedro Acosta, Francesco Bagnaia, 2025 Japanese MotoGP. © Gold and Goose |
Acosta will line-up alongside Marc Marquez, who himself committed his future to Ducati with a new two-year deal of his own on Monday.
Acosta and Marquez will form one of the most talented rider pairings the sport has ever seen, and it will be the most high-profile since Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha.
Ducati was known to be a big admirer of Acosta in previous years, so it’s therefore no surprise that the Bologna-based company pushed hard to sign the Spaniard when it did.
Signing Acosta comes at a particularly interesting time, with MotoGP set to transition into the new 850cc era in 2027.
Alongside Marquez, Acosta will no doubt be expected to lead Ducati over the next two years by challenging for race wins and the title.
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| Pedro Acosta, 2026 Czech MotoGP. © Gold and Goose |
However, it’s also clear that Ducati sees Acosta as the long-term future of their MotoGP project given he is only 22 years of age.
Speaking about the signing of Acosta, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said: “Pedro is undoubtedly one of the most talented young riders in the MotoGP paddock.
“At just 22 years old, he is the kind of rider with whom a new and exciting chapter can be written.
“We have always liked him and have been following him for some time, both for what he has achieved on track and for his direct and easy-going personality, which we are sure will make Ducatisti fall in love with him once he is dressed in red.
“We believe that, alongside Marc, he represents the ideal complement for a team that - building on its history and on the results achieved in recent years - wants to continue playing a leading role in the future and remain a source of admiration, respect and support for Ducati fans all around the world”.
- Robert Jones
VIRAL PHOTOS: CRISTIANO RONALDO MET UZBEKISTAN TEENAGERS IN 2009 | 17 YEARS LATER, THE CLASHED IN FIFA WORLD CUP
A heartwarming story came from the Portugal vs Uzbekistan match at FIFA World Cup 2026, as Uzbekistan stars Rustamjon Ashurmatov and Dostonbek Khamdamov faced off against their idol, Cristiano Ronaldo.
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| Cristiano Ronaldo had met Uzbekistan's Rustamjon Ashurmatov and Dostonbek Khamdamov in 2009.© X (formerly twitter) |
Cristiano Ronaldo was back at his very best as he slammed in two history-making goals for Portugal in their FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Uzbekistan. Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in six different World Cups, leading Portugal to a 5-0 victory. But away from the records, there was also a heartwarming storyline attached to the game. Uzbekistan stars Rustamjon Ashurmatov and Dostonbek Khamdamov had met Ronaldo when they were barely teenagers when the Portuguese star had visited Tashkent in 2009. 17 years later, they were squaring off against him on the global stage.
Photos and videos of Ronaldo attending a camp of footballers in Tashkent, which also featured Ashurmatov and Khamdamov, went viral on social media ahead of the game.
At the time, Ashurmatov and Khamdamov were 12 or 13 years old, while Ronaldo was just a one-time Ballon d'Or winner who had just left Manchester United for Real Madrid in a world record deal.
Cristiano Ronaldo with Uzbekistan's Ashurmatov and Khamdamov in 2009.
16 years later, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against them. pic.twitter.com/1iys2lrTdG
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 23, 2026
Ashurmatov:
Bu harika bir fotoraf, Ronaldo'nun ziyareti beklenmedik bir eydi.
Gelip bizimle futbol oynad, o srada biz 13 yndaydk.
Khamdamov:
Unutulmaz bir and; o dnemde Ronaldo hretinin zirvesindeydi. pic.twitter.com/FftqFgTvq3
— Golista (@golistaspor) June 23, 2026
Lost media: when Cristiano RONALDO visited uzbekistan in 2009 and this little boy started imitating all his 5 star skills, ronaldo was amazed
17 years later, he faced two of the boys he met in 2009: Ashmadov and Khumadov as Portugal face Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/Hz74nFvHlN
— MatchReport (@MatchReportH) June 23, 2026
In their FIFA World Cup encounter, Ashurmatov started in defence for Uzbekistan, playing the full 90 minutes. Unfortunately, Khamdamov did not get to come off the bench during the game.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo declared "I'm back" and said those "attacking" him should never write him off after making World Cup history in the 5-0 hammering of Uzbekistan on Tuesday in Houston.
The 41-year-old, under pressure to deliver after a barren recent run at major tournaments, pounced after six minutes. He added a second with a smart finish before half-time as Roberto Martinez's side ran riot against limited opposition.
The five-star display was in stark contrast to a stale 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in which Ronaldo was laboured and largely anonymous.
Ronaldo shouted into a television camera "I'm back, I'm back", and said after his two-goal display: "I can say it was a very tough week, a difficult week, a week in which public opinion was very harsh on us, on all the players, especially on the coach.
"But it's always like that, it's fine because when you think about it, it's already 23 years I've been a professional and whenever things don't go well it's, 'Cristiano, he's finished, he's old'.
"But well, it was a good response from me and my teammates, which is what we wanted."
With AFP inputs
- Roddur Mookherjee
TARTAN ARMY TAKES OVER MIAMI AHEAD OF SCOTLAND VS. BRAZIL
Scotland fans have descended on Miami, Florida, for what could be a historic World Cup match against Brazil on Wednesday.
Steve Clarke's side currently sit third in Group C after a 1-0 win and defeat against Haiti and Morocco.
If all goes well, Scotland has a chance at qualifying for the knockout stage at the World Cup for the first time ever, following eight previous group-stage exits.
They could even qualify with a loss, but would need to wait until all the group games finish on June 27 to know their fate.
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| Tartan Army cheers on Scotland at a boat party in Miami Credit: ITV News |
Defender and captain Andy Robertson admitted that Brazil will be a tough game, but remained positive, telling reporters: "We are in control of our own destiny."
He's certainly got backing from fans, as thousands of Tartan Army members travelled to Miami for the game.
Fans from both teams were seen drinking, dancing on Ocean Drive, and wishing each other luck. Some even played five-a-sides and other street football games.
“Everywhere they go, people fall in love with them,” Robertson said.
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| Andy Robertson and his team have been training in preparation for their match against Brazil Credit: AP |
"Come tomorrow night. If we manage to beat Brazil ... I'm sure maybe a couple of beers will be drunk by the Tartan Army. That's for sure," he added.
The Tartan Army certainly won over the hearts of people in Boston, where their previous games were held, as they marched through the city playing bagpipes and chanting the new unofficial 'No Scotland, No Party' anthem.
Back on home turf, faithfuls will be watching at fan zones across Scotland including the Ovo Hydro in Glasgow and The Pitt in Edinburgh. The game will kick off at 11pm UK time.
First Minister John Swinney said he has faith that the team can make history and that they "have the chance to make themselves legends tonight".
Both teams kick off at 11pm UK time and the game will be available to watch on BBC 1.
- itvX
JUAN MANUEL FANGIO | FORMULA 1 LEGEND | BORN ON THIS DAY
35 podiums (24 of them wins) from just 51 F1 world championship grands prix 🏅
5 drivers’ titles with 4 different teams in his 9 seasons 🏆
3037 laps raced, 1347 of those in the lead 🏁
56.86% of his total world championship grands prix started from pole 🏎️
The OG 🐐 of Formula 1!
Remembering the late and great Juan Manuel Fangio, who was born on this day in 1911.
- Motorsport Magazine
ANTHONY GORDON'S HUGE £80M BARCELONA DEAL WITH THREE CLAUSES SET TO MAKE NEWCASTLE MILLIONS
Anthony Gordon's sale to Barcelona could prove highly lucrative for Newcastle United down the line
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| Anthony Gordon made a big-money move to Barcelona before the World Cup(Image: Getty Images) |
Anthony Gordon's move to Barcelona this summer could end up landing Newcastle United millions due to three clauses inserted into the deal. While he's been at the centre of one of the biggest transfers of the summer, the Liverpudlian winger failed to impress for England against Ghana on Tuesday evening.
In fact, so far, he's looked a shadow of the man that the Catalan giants shelled out in excess of £69.3million for. Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel elected to keep Gordon in his starting line-up for the tie with the Black Stars despite also underperforming in England's 4-2 win over Croatia last week.
Gordon's speed, directness and ability to race to the byline are just some of the reasons Barcelona chose to move for him over Marcus Rashford, who had impressed on loan at Barca last season. However, Gordon will do well to keep his place for England's clash with Panama on Saturday night.
Despite Gordon more often than not starring for Newcastle during his time in the North East, there'll be sections of the fanbase who believe they've had the better end of the deal with the player currently struggling at the World Cup.
He's signed on for five years in Spain and the figures involved are rather astonishing. His deal is set to expire in 2031 and it's thought he's pulling in £300,000 per week, for an annual salary of £15.6 million. Over the full five years of his contract, this amounts to around just shy of £80m.
Gordon, who joined Newcastle from Everton in 2023, cost the club £45m. The deal to take the attacker to the Camp Nou will see 15 per cent being paid to the Toffees.
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| Gordon struggled to make an impact against Ghana(Image: Getty Images) |
With that in mind, the Magpies' trio of clauses mean there's a reality where they will bank much more than the initial fee for Gordon in the future.
Here we take a look at the trio of clauses, which were added to the deal by the club's sporting director Ross Wilson, and just how much Newcastle could bank from the deal.
The 60% Appearance Clause
Newcastle will receive £860,000 (€1m) per season if Gordon features in at least 60 per cent of Barcelona's fixtures, something he has never struggled to do during his time at St James' Park. If he stays fit and remains a regular starter, Newcastle will max this out at £4.3m (€5m) by the end of his contract.
The Silverware Clause
A further £4.3m (€5m) will be paid to Newcastle if Gordon helps Barcelona win trophies during his stint at the Camp Nou. This could bode well for the Magpies with Barcelona having won La Liga for the past two consecutive seasons.
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| He signed a five-year deal(Image: Adria Puig/Anadolu via Getty Images) |
Sell-On Clause
Newcastle also wisely inserted a sell-on clause into the deal. While the exact percentage has been kept under wraps, it will ensure that the North East outfit will take a cut of any future transfer fee. This is typically based on the sale's profit if Barcelona choose to cut ties with Gordon before his contract expires.
- Chris Burns
DONALD TRUMP TO JOINTLY PRESENT FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 TROPHY TO WINNERS
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday stated that he and U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup Final together, where they will watch the match and jointly present the trophy to the winning team.
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| Donald Trump had already been informed that FIFA would like him to present the trophy.© AFP |
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday stated that he and U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup Final together, where they will watch the match and jointly present the trophy to the winning team. Earlier, talkSPORT reported that FIFA has no objection to Trump handing the World Cup trophy directly to the winning captain and remaining on the podium during celebrations. "We're going to be together with US President Donald Trump, enjoying the World Cup Final and handing the trophy to the winner together," Infantino said as per Fox News.
The US president had already been informed that FIFA would like him to present the trophy to the tournament winners. Officials from Mexico and Canada are also expected to be invited to attend the closing ceremony.
Trump drew attention at the Club World Cup when he remained on the podium beside Chelsea captain Reece James as he lifted the trophy.
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer appeared visibly puzzled, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino initially appeared to guide Trump away before later encouraging him to stay.
Under standard FIFA protocol, the World Cup trophy is typically placed on a plinth and carried by the winning team onto the stage for the presentation ceremony.
Trump did not attend the USMNT's opening victory over Paraguay due to a scheduling conflict, but is expected to be present at the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
- ANI
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
ARGENTINA FORWARD JULIÁN ÁLVAREZ SAYS HE WANTS OUT OF ATLETICO MADRID
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| Alvarez scored 20 goals in all competitions for AtleticoCredit: Getty |
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Argentina forward Julián Álvarez wants out of Atletico Madrid.
Álvarez spoke after Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria on Monday at the World Cup in Arlington, Texas.
"The best thing for everyone is a transfer," the 26-year-old player told ESPN. "I don´t think it´s the right time to talk about this, but I can´t hide either. I have to be honest, and I spoke with people at the club, the ones I needed to talk to."
Not long after his comments were published in Spain, images of some Atletico fans burning the player's jersey were posted on social media.
Earlier this month, Real Madrid said Atletico rejected an offer of 150 million euros ($171 million) for the 26-year-old Álvarez.
The offer was part of the campaign promises made by Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez ahead of his re-election.
Barcelona is also reportedly interested in signing the talented Argentina forward.
Atletico has said it does not intend to negotiate.
Spanish media reported that there was a release clause for Álvarez worth 500 million euros ($571 million).
- AP
Monday, 22 June 2026
DUSTY MAY AGREES TO BECOME DALLAS MAVERICKS HEAD COACH
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| Michigan national champion coach Dusty May is finalizing a deal to become the Dallas Mavericks’ next head coach, pairing him with Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg |Michigan basketball coach Dusty May | Image by Getty Images |
Michigan basketball coach Dusty May is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple reports.
The move comes weeks after the Mavericks mutually agreed to part ways with Jason Kidd following a 26-56 season. May, who led Michigan to the 2026 NCAA national championship, would make the jump from college to the NBA in what would be the first direct college-to-pro head coaching hire since 2019.
Mavericks Coaching Search Background
The Mavericks began their coaching search in May 2026 after parting ways with Kidd. In a statement at the time, Mavericks President Masai Ujiri said at the time that “Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals. … As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team.”
The Dallas Express previously reported on the search, noting Ujiri’s emphasis on future-oriented decisions around rookie star Cooper Flagg. Candidates included assistants and college coaches, with exploratory talks involving May and others.
Dusty May’s Coaching History
May built his reputation at Florida Atlantic University before moving to Michigan. At FAU from 2018 to 2024, he compiled a 126-69 record, leading the Owls to the 2023 Final Four as a No. 9 seed — one of the most improbable runs in NCAA history. He was the program’s all-time wins leader.
Prior to FAU, May served as an assistant at Florida (2015-18), Louisiana Tech, and other programs after starting as a student manager at Indiana. He was hired by Michigan in 2024 to replace Juwan Howard and quickly restored the Wolverines to national prominence, winning the 2026 national title in his second season.
Reactions on X
Social media lit up with the news. One user posted that “After winning a National Championship at Michigan, Dusty May is leaving the Wolverines to coach Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks, per multiple reports.”
Another noting owner Patrick Dumont’s role, posted, “Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont convinced Rick Welts to come out of retirement, he convinced Masai Ujiri to run his basketball team and now Dusty May to coach his team. The ungodly amounts of money he’s spent…”
No official Mavericks statement confirming the hire had been released as of Monday morning, but reports from Adam Schefter, Shams Charania, and Pete Thamel indicated the deal was nearing completion.
First Game and Future Outlook
May’s first regular-season game with the Mavericks is expected in late October 2026, when the NBA season typically tips off. No exact date has been announced pending the official hire and schedule release.
The hire pairs May with Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick and 2025-26 Rookie of the Year, who averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. It marks a rebuild-focused move under Ujiri aimed at long-term contention. Michigan will now search for its next coach.
- Tiffany Chartier
FORMER WIMBLEDON WINNER'S BAN SLAMMED AS 'COMPLETELY INSANE' BY WTA STAR
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| Marketa Vondrousova with inset of Eva Lys |
Marketa Vondrousova has been hit with a lengthy ban from tennis following her refusal to submit a sample during an out-of-competition test, but one of her fellow WTA players has come to her defence.
2023 Wimbledon winner Vondrousova has not competed since the Adelaide International in January and the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) dropped a bombshell in April when it announced that she had been charged after she denied a doping control officer entry to her home to conduct the test.
The case went to a hearing and a tribunal has now found her guilty and handed down a long suspension as the starting point for a sanction when a player refuses a test is the same as if they had tested positive.
The 26-year-old Vondrousova, who peaked at No 6 in the WTA Rankings, will miss the next four years of action and her suspension will only end on 21 June 2030.
Fellow tennis star Eva Lys was one of the first to react as she offered her support to the Czech star, writing on social media: “This is COMPLETELY insane. Sending so much love to Marketa…”
Under international anti-doping regulations, players have to submit their whereabouts for an hour each day so that officials can conduct anti-doping tests.
An official arrived at her home in the Czech Republic last December to get a sample, but Vondrousova refused to allow the officer in stating she feared for her safety.
Tennis News
Following the announcement, the 26-year-old posted a message on social media to give her side of events, writing: “It is very tough for me to talk about this, but I want to be transparent with you about my mental health.
“The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.
“For a long time, I’ve been dealing with injury, constant pressure, and ongoing sleep issues that left me feeling exhausted and fragile.
“It slowly wore me down more than I probably realised at the time. And on top of that, years of hateful messages and threats have affected how safe I feel in my own space.
“When someone rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves or following protocol – I reacted as a person who felt scared.
“In that moment, it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything. Experts confirmed I suffered an Acute Stress Reaction (F43.0) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (F41.1).
“In that moment, fear clouded my judgement and I just could not process the situation rationally. After what happened to Petra [Kvitova], we don’t take strangers at our door lightly.”
Although her charge didn’t come with an automatic suspension, Vondrousova has not competed in recent months with the case going to a tribunal.
Vondrousova stated her case at the hearing, saying stress and poor mental health had affected her decision-making, in addition to concerns for her safety.
But the tribunal concluded that the evidence offered “no compelling justification” for the test refusal.
International Tennis Integrity Agency CEO, Karen Moorhouse said: “We understand that the testing process is uncomfortable, and acknowledge that it is an additional burden for players whose jobs already come with a high level of pressure and scrutiny, but it is essential to protect fair competition.
“Safety and welfare of players and our testers is really important to us. Our testers are well-trained, professional, and the gender of our testing witness always matches the player. They carry ID at all times, and players are able to verify their identity in other ways if they are ever unsure.”
She added: “Unpredictable testing is an essential tool to protect clean sport.
“The independent tribunal ultimately supported that principle. This case is an important reminder that players can be tested at any time, in any place, and that refusal comes with significant risk.”
Vondrousova is free to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), but she is yet to make a statement following the announcement by the ITIA.
- Shahida Jacobs
BILLIONAIRE ATHLETES
David Beckham is a billionaire, worth $1 billion by our count—one of just seven living pro athletes (Jordan, Magic, Tiger, LeBron, Federer and retired Romanian tennis ace Ion Tiriac) to manage the feat.
Read more about how Beckham became a billionaire: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maneetahuja/2026/05/20/new-billionaire-david-beckham-on-his-family-team-and-legacy/?utm_source=ForbesMainFacebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ForbesMainFB
- Forbes
ENGLAND LOSE 12 WTC POINTS FOR SLOW OVER RATE AT OVAL
This is the second time England have lost points for a slow over rate in this World Test Championship cycle
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| Joe Root accepted the charge of maintaining a slow over rate at The Oval • Philip Brown/Getty Images |
England have been docked 12 points in the World Test Championship and fined 50% of their match fee for a slow over-rate offence against New Zealand in the second Test at The Oval. Since a win is worth 12 WTC points, the penalty has cost England the points they earned for beating New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's.
England were found to be 12 overs short of the target at The Oval after factoring in time allowances. According to the World Test Championship playing conditions, a team is penalised one point for each over short. The ICC's Code of Conduct says players will be fined 5% of their match fee for each over short but the maximum is capped at 50%, which is the penalty England have been hit with.
The charges were brought by on-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Nitin Menon, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Graham Lloyd. England captain Joe Root, who was standing in for Ben Stokes in the aftermath of the Rex Rooms incident, pled guilty and so no hearing was needed with match referee Andy Pycroft.
England lost the second Test by 253 runs, with the series level at 1-1 ahead of the decider at Trent Bridge from June 25. England are currently seventh out of nine teams in the WTC standings with 38 points from 12 Tests, which translates to 26.39 percentage points.
This is the second time England have been docked points for a slow over rate in the current WTC cycle. They lost two points for the same offence during their 22-run victory against India at Lord's in 2025. In the previous WTC cycle from 2023 to 2025, England had lost 22 points due to slow over-rate offences and finished fifth.
- ESPNcricinfo
FORMULA 1 RETURNS TO THE RED BULL RING FOR THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Round 8 is here at the heart of the Styrian hills! 🇦🇹
Formula 1 returns for the 12th consecutive year at the Red Bull Ring.
#FIA #F1 #AustrianGP
- FIA
PRESENTER AT THE CENTER OF JEREMY DOKU WORLD CUP ROW 'SUSPENDED' AFTER CHILD BIRTH COMMENT
L'Equipe presenter France Pierron has been suspended after making controversial remarks about Belgium star Jeremy Doku's decision to leave the World Cup.
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| Jeremy Doku faced criticism over plans to leave the World Cup for the birth of his first child. (Image: Getty) |
France Pierron has reportedly been suspended by L'Equipe following her extraordinary rant aimed at Manchester City and Belgium star Jeremy Doku. The 24-year-old could be absent for the World Cup quarter-final, should Belgium reach that stage, as he plans to attend the birth of his first child in July.
The news of his potential unavailability prompted Pierron to condemn the decision on L'Equipe de Choc, branding it "disgraceful". According to French outlet Clement Garin, Pierron has been removed from presenting duties ahead of their upcoming show on Monday. The remarks made by the journalist and presenter have provoked widespread fury and condemnation, with many criticising her outdated perspective.
Doku's wife Shireen is expected to give birth during the second week of July, which will clash with the quarter-final fixtures. Speaking before the tournament, the winger confirmed he would return home to be with his partner as they welcome their first child.
Clement Garin has reported that Pierron has been suspended by the French broadcaster and will not be fronting their programme on Monday. A tweet read: "NFGO CGTV. France Pierron suspended from airing, the "L'Equipe" editorial team denounces the directory's "hypocrisy.
"According to CGTV sources, @francepierron will not be presenting #LÉquipeDeChoc this Monday. A decision the editorial team does not understand, because it was the management itself that ordered not to delete the post when it started to go viral. It was only when the backlash became unmanageable that management changed its tune by demanding the post be deleted... and turning against its own journalist!".
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| Jeremy Doku's partner is expected to give birth to their first child in July (Image: Getty) |
Doku was absent from Belgium's goalless draw with Iran on Sunday owing to a chest infection, as Rudi Garcia's side occupy second spot in Group G behind the Middle Eastern nation. They remain ahead of New Zealand and Egypt by a single point, though the other group fixture is scheduled for Monday morning (2am), which could pile further pressure on the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku heading into their final encounter against New Zealand.
The forward said pre-tournament: "It depends on when it happens, but it's my first child, so I would definitely want to be there. "If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we can do."
Following Belgium's draw against Egypt in the group opener — where they avoided a disastrous beginning when a second-half own-goal wiped out Emam Ashour's opener — Pierron was scathing of Doku's decision to potentially miss the World Cup for a personal milestone, branding it "disgusting". She remarked: "You can't miss a World Cup... And now, you're not going to the match to cut an umbilical cord?
"You have the chance to participate in a World Cup, and there are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your place, but you're going to leave all that to go and witness the birth of your child, which is a disgusting moment, excuse me, where the father is useless, he has a role as an extra."
Following a fierce social media backlash, she subsequently broke her silence but offered only a lukewarm apology to the Belgian wide man. She wrote: "In light of the very numerous reactions following my comments in 'L'Équipe de Choc' regarding Belgian footballer Jérémy Doku, I wish to provide a few clarifications. In it, I expressed a personal opinion, within the framework of a debate
"In it, 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.
"My intention has never been to minimize the place or role of fathers with their partner and their child."
- Stephen Killen
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