World Cup solidarity for jailed French journalist rattles Algeria

Algeria’s football match against Austria on June 28th marked the first anniversary of the imprisonment of journalist Christophe Gleize, detained in Algeria and sentenced to 7 years in jail.

According to Moroccan government friendly Atalayar on June 29th, many tributes were paid by Christophe Gleize’s colleagues, sports journalists across North America, in support of their peer. Gleize remains the only sports journalist currently detained worldwide.

International sports journalists have held up scarves and worn T-shirts with slogans such as “Free Gleizes” at nearly every press conference of the tournament. His absence as a reporter is particularly mediatised, as empty seats were left in his memory; FIFA decided to exceptionally grant him accreditation to cover the World Cup from his cell in Tizi Ouzou, an important symbolic action.

On the Algerian side, this visibility and international support have created great discomfort. The recognition of football’s biggest institution and journalists challenges the Algerian’s government narrative. Zoheir Bouamama, Algeria’s Minister of Communication, has recently repeated that journalism in Algeria is practised “free from pressure”. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino further commented on the situation while describing his imprisonment as highly concerning for the development of global sports journalism. “Gleizes is the only sports reporter currently jailed in the world. We formally request his release,” added Gianni Infantino. 

French football coach Didier Deschamps joined expressions of solidarity after being asked by another reporter a question reportedly written by Christophe Gleizes from his cell, responding that he “hope[s] he can be here as soon as possible and ask the question himself”.

Christophe Gleize’s situation in Algeria started in May 2024, when he visited Algeria to investigate the death of Cameroonian footballer Albert Ebossé.

The Algerian state had declared Ebossé’s death to be the result of a stone thrown at him from the stands during a football match in Algeria. Gleize suspected the Algerian press and authorities of concealing another version of the story, one in which local elites would have ordered a dressing room murder. 

In June 2025, he was convicted on charges of “apology for terrorism” and handed a seven-year sentence. An appeals court upheld that sentence six months later.

During his investigation, Christophe Gleize found himself interviewing directors of the JS Kabylie club linked to the movement for the self-determination of Kabyle, a Berberist group classified as terrorist by Algiers. 

International support from institutions and the media has put Algerian authorities in an uncomfortable position.

Atalayar, Maghrebi.org