France – Reporters Without Borders, June 29, 2026
One year after his imprisonment in Algeria, French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes remains detained despite an exceptional mobilisation of civil society, the football community, media outlets, and local authorities. Having withdrawn his appeal to the Court of Cassation, the contributor to So Foot and Society magazines now hopes for a potential presidential pardon from Algerian head of state Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is leading an international campaign on his behalf, is renewing its call for his immediate release.
On 29 June 2025, one year ago today, the Tizi Ouzou court sentenced Christophe Gleizes to seven years in prison without parole for “apologia for terrorism” and “possession of publications for propaganda purposes harmful to the national interest.” The ruling was upheld on appeal on 3 December 2025. He was arrested on 28 May 2024 whilst reporting on the JS Kabylie football club, and spent the following 13 months under judicial supervision, banned from leaving Algeria.
“One year of unjust detention for Christophe Gleizes. As the FIFA World Cup 2026 unfolds, an empty seat bearing his name in the press gallery and his official accreditation are reminders that his place is in the stadiums, among the journalists covering the event — not in a prison cell. This detention is a negation of the freedom to inform. RSF once again calls for his immediate and unconditional release, and thanks all women and men of goodwill, in Algeria and in France, who are working toward his imminent return.” Thibaut Bruttin, Director General of RSF
