World Cup kicks off with empty seat for French journalist detained in Algeria
Key takeaways
- The FIFA boss said he hoped “the only sports journalist currently imprisoned in the world” would be freed during the event.
- By: FRANCE 24 A message of support for jailed journalist Christophe Gleizes at a Ligue 1 football match in Paris, on May 3, 2026.
- The freelance reporter was handed a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria last year over an interview with a football official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
FIFA has issued World Cup accreditation to Christophe Gleizes in a gesture of support for the jailed French reporter, who was represented by an empty seat during Gianni Infantino’s news conference on the eve of the tournament. The FIFA boss said he hoped “the only sports journalist currently imprisoned in the world” would be freed during the event.
By: FRANCE 24 A message of support for jailed journalist Christophe Gleizes at a Ligue 1 football match in Paris, on May 3, 2026. © Franck Fife, AFP FIFA has issued World Cup accreditation to French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has confirmed, praising a “strong show of support” from world football's governing body ahead of the World Cup which kicks off on Thursday.
The freelance reporter was handed a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria last year over an interview with a football official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement.