RSF - Reporters sans frontières

12/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/22/2025 14:37

#FreeGleizes: French football world rallies for release of sports journalist detained in Algeria

The campaign for Christophe Gleizes' release is gaining momentum. Based on initiatives from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the So Press group, and the journalist's support committee, French football authorities are calling for the immediate release of the French journalist detained in Algeria. An event at the headquarters of the French Football Federation (FFF), the broadcasting of messages of support - including one from Christophe Gleizes' mother - during matches on beIN SPORTS television network as well as during the French Cup, with the help of the Professional Football League (LFP) are among the activities carried out in recent days.

Since Thursday 18 December, a giant picture of Christophe Gleizes has been covering the façade of the FFF headquarters in Paris. This powerful and highly symbolic act is intended to draw the attention of both the public and the authorities towards the fate of Christophe Gleizes, a 36-year-old journalist specialising in African football who has been imprisoned in Algeria simply for doing his job. In June 2025, he was sentenced to seven years in prison, a sentence that was upheld on appealon 3 December.

A support event at the heart of the FFF

Following on from this act of solidarity, a support event was organised on 18 December at the headquarters of the FFF, which was attended by its president, Philippe Diallo, the family of Christophe Gleizes, representatives from the sport and media worlds, as well as by Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, representing the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). The evening was an opportunity to reiterate that freedom of the press is a struggle that concerns society as a whole, including the world of sport, and that no journalist should be imprisoned for their work.

"We are committed to this fight because it symbolises everything we stand for. Through Christophe Gleizes, we are first and foremost defending a journalist who was unjustly convicted because he travelled to Algeria, where he tried to do his job as a journalist. Here in Paris, lots of people are thinking of him. Lots of people are committed to securing his release as quickly as possible from the Algerian authorities and their president, who is now one of the only people who can - through a presidential pardon - allow him to regain his freedom as quickly as possible.

Philippe Diallo,
President of the FFF

"Since Christophe Gleizes' appeal was upheld on 3 December - an unjust and shocking decision - more and more of our fellow citizens are discovering who he is every day. We must shake off our indifference and mobilise on an even bigger scale. And this is where the world of sport has a fundamental responsibility, because it is a place of commitment and also a place of life. In each federation, hundreds or even thousands of people can be reached and mobilised for Christophe's important cause. We must act now. This is a fight for press freedom and sports journalism. We have also contacted many elected officials, notably mayors of French cities, so that Christophe's face is known to all, and present in the public sphere. Journalism is not a crime.

Thibaut Bruttin
Director general de RSF

"Now more than ever, it is our duty to fight for Christophe's release. Because - beyond the fight for one man and [the fight] against injustice - sport needs its journalists. Journalists need freedom. Freedom of information needs us. It needs citizens who are committed to protecting it when it is threatened. We need to fight this battle together. The Republic of sport must be present and united. When values as essential as freedom - at the very heart of democracy and our Republic - are flouted in this way, and one of our own is affected in this manner, the mobilisation of the French sport world is a natural response and must continue to grow in strength.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra,
French National Olympic and Sports Committee

Televised appeal by Christophe Gleizes' mother on BeIN SPORTS

The campaign for Christophe Gleizes' release continued throughout the weekend during the round of 32 of the French Cup. Thanks to the support of the FFF, the LFP, and broadcaster beIN SPORTS, awareness-raising activities were carried out at all matches, including messages of support, speeches, and increased visibility of the campaign for Christophe Gleizes' release.

A highlight of this campaign was a special operation, devised with the agency The Good Company, which took place during the Paris Saint-Germain vs. Fontenay-le-Comte match on Saturday 20 December, at 9 p.m. Paris time, broadcast live on beIN SPORTS. With the agreement of the FFF and beIN SPORTS, a video message from Sylvie Godard, the journalist's mother was broadcast in the 7th minute of play - a symbolic moment echoing the seven-year prison sentence imposed on Christophe Gleizes.

A direct message to Christophe Gleizes in his cell

In this message, Christophe Gleizes' mother, addressed spectators and supporters to highlight the injustice of her son's detention and call for his release. Most notably, she also chose to speak directly to Christophe, who has access to television in his cell, informing him that he is "not alone and that a whole community is rallying by his side."

Timeline of Christophe Gleizes' case:

28 May 2024: Christophe Gleizes is arrested in Tizi Ouzou (Algeria) while covering a story on the JS Kabylie (JSK) football club. He is placed under a judicial control order.

29 June 2025: Christophe Gleizes is sentenced to seven years in prison for "glorifying terrorism" and "possessing publications for propaganda purposes harmful to national interests".

30 June 2025:RSF launches a petitioncalling for Christophe Gleizes' release. To date, it has gathered more than 20,000 signatures.

16 July 2025:Around 100 public figures announce their support for the call for Christophe Gleizes' release.

24 July 2025: During the Tour de France cycling competition, a giant bannercalling for Christophe Gleizes' release is unfurled -- an action coordinated by RSF. The aim is to turn one of the most high-profile sporting events of the year into a platform for press freedom.

August 2025:A giant banner in support of journalist Christophe Gleizes is unfurled on the front of the town hall in Agen, the town where he was born. The call for Christophe's release was also shared at the Avignon, Rock en Seine, and Couthures-sur-Garonne festivals, which included speeches by members of his support committee and RSF.

29 September 2025:To mark three months of the journalists' detention in Algeria, Sixteen French journalism schools join forces to call for his release. RSF welcomed this initiative and renewed its call for his freedom.

20 November 2025: NineLigue 1 football clubs mobilise for the release of Christophe Gleizes, who is being held in Algeria.

29 November 2025:Nearly 30 prominent figures join forces to call for his release.

3 December 2025:Christophe Gleizes' appeal trial takes place at the Tizi Ouzou Court of Appeal, which upholds his seven-year prison sentence. RSF demands his release.

18 December 18 2025: A giant picture of Christophe on the facade of the FFF headquarters in Paris is revealed. On 19, 20 and 21 December , messages of support were broadcast during the round of 32 of the French Cup. These include a video message from Christophe Gleizes' mother, Sylvie Godard, addressed to her son, which is shown in the 7th minute of the Paris Saint-Germain - Fontenay-le-Comte match. This is a symbolic moment, as the number seven refers to the seven-year prison sentence inflicted on the journalist.

Published on22.12.2025
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