French Journalists Protest Christophe Gleizes' 7-Year Algeria Jailing at World Cup
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 15
French Journalists Protest Christophe Gleizes' 7-Year Algeria Jailing at World Cup
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 15
Summary
Empty seats in France's press box and news conference room are being left throughout the World Cup to spotlight Christophe Gleizes, the French football journalist jailed in Algeria.
French reporters intensified the protest on Monday in New Jersey by raising 'Free Gleizes' scarves before Didier Deschamps' news conference ahead of Tuesday's match against Senegal.
Gleizes, a So Foot journalist covering African football, was sentenced in 2025 to seven years for supporting terrorism; French journalists' unions have demanded his release.
Sylvie Gleizes traveled to the tournament to press the case, saying her son feels 'cut off' from the world and that FIFA president Gianni Infantino personally approved his accreditation.
The campaign has reached France's team setup as well: L'Equipe's Vincent Duluc asked Deschamps a question on Gleizes' behalf, prompting the coach to say he hoped the journalist could soon return and ask his own.