French journalists covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup have launched a series of protests in support of imprisoned sports reporter Christophe Gleizes, using one of the world’s biggest sporting events to draw international attention to his case.
Throughout the tournament, an empty chair has been placed at every France national team press conference as a symbol of Gleizes’ absence and a call for his release.
The Paris-based journalist, who writes for the football magazine So Foot, has been detained in Algeria since 2024. Gleizes travelled to the North African country to report on JS Kabylie, one of Algeria’s most prominent football clubs, based in the city of Tizi Ouzou.
In 2025, an Algerian court sentenced him to seven years in prison after convicting him over communications with an advocate for self-determination for Algeria’s Kabyle minority.
The conviction has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates, journalists’ unions, and media organizations across France. Following the ruling, representatives from nearly 40 French news outlets issued a joint statement condemning the sentence and calling for Gleizes’ immediate release.
The organizations argued that imprisoning a journalist for activities linked to their reporting represents a serious threat to press freedom and independent journalism.
Demonstrations have continued throughout the FIFA World Cup. Ahead of France’s Group I clash against Senegal, journalists gathered outside the team’s pre-match press conference wearing scarves bearing the message “Free Gleizes,” further amplifying calls for his release.
The protests have added a press freedom dimension to the tournament, highlighting ongoing concerns about the treatment of journalists and media workers around the world.
As the World Cup continues, supporters of Gleizes hope the increased global attention generated by football’s biggest stage will place additional pressure on authorities and help secure his release.
