Empty seat at World Cup for imprisoned French sports journalist

French sports journalists displayed scarves in solidarity with Christophe Gleizes on Monday prior to the start of France manager Didier Deschamps' press conference

Published 9 hours ago

An empty seat is being kept in the press box at every France match during the World Cup to draw attention to the situation of a French sports journalist currently imprisoned in Algeria.

Christophe Gleizes was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2025 on charges of supporting terrorism.

French journalist unions are urging Algeria to release Gleizes, who covers African football for the Paris-based publication So Foot.

On Monday, journalists raised scarves reading 'Free Gleizes' before Didier Deschamps' press conference at the New Jersey New York Stadium, ahead of Tuesday's match against Senegal (20:00 BST).

Gleizes' mother, Sylvie, has traveled to the World Cup to advocate for her son's release.

She informed BBC Sport on Monday that his accreditation for the tournament was personally approved by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

She also noted that her son feels "isolated" from the world.

Christophe Gleizes's accreditation for the 2026 World Cup was displayed at the France press conference

Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 after traveling to Algeria for an article about the club JSK, based in Tizi Ouzou.

He was later convicted of engaging in communications with a supporter of self-determination for Algeria's Kabyle minority.

Representatives from around 40 different French media outlets stated after his sentencing that "the imprisonment of a journalist for performing his job is a red line that must never be crossed".

In addition to an empty seat in the press box, a chair is being left vacant at every France press conference to underscore his case.

Journalist Vincent Duluc, from the French daily sports newspaper L'Equipe, posed a question to Deschamps on behalf of Gleizes regarding hydration breaks on Monday.

"I hope for his sake and his family's that he can be here as soon as possible and ask his questions himself," Deschamps responded.

Christophe Gleizes' mother, Sylvie, spoke to journalists outside the New Jersey New York Stadium on Monday