Ballon d'Or Ceremony Highlights Plight of Jailed French Journalist in Algeria
The prestigious football awards dedicated their 2024 ceremony to Christophe Gleizes, who has been imprisoned in Algeria for over a year on charges of supporting terrorism.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony, held in London, drew attention to the case of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria. Presenters Kate Scott and Thierry Henry dedicated the event to the 37-year-old reporter, displaying his photograph on a large screen with the hashtag "#FreeGleize" and noting he had been detained for over 15 months.
Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 during a trip to Algeria, where he was reporting on the football club Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK). The Kabylie region is a focal point for movements seeking self-determination, and Algerian authorities accused Gleizes of supporting terrorism. His arrest occurred amidst a period of heightened diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria.
He reportedly faced charges related to possessing publications deemed harmful to national security, stemming from his contacts with a JSK official who was also associated with the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), an organization designated as terrorist by Algeria in 2021. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an organization campaigning for his release, asserts that Gleizes's exchanges were journalistic and some contacts predated the MAK's outlawing.
During an appeal hearing in December 2024, Gleizes admitted to procedural errors, including entering Algeria on a tourist visa instead of a journalist visa. He appealed for mercy to be reunited with his family. Prosecutors maintained that his travel was intended to commit a hostile act, not for journalistic purposes.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony's dedication marks a significant international platform for Gleizes's case. The Algerian authorities have not yet commented on this gesture by the ceremony's organizers, France Football magazine and UEFA.
RSF has organized a solidarity football match for November 11, which will coincide with Gleizes's 500th day in detention, as part of their ongoing efforts to secure his release. Former French international footballers Robert Pirès and Vikash Dhorasoo, along with Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, are among the announced participants.
Gleizes's situation is part of a broader pattern of legal actions against writers and public figures in Algeria. For instance, Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal received a five-year prison sentence for undermining national security before being pardoned in 2025. The journalist's arrest also occurred during a period of strained relations between France and Algeria, exacerbated by France's stance on Western Sahara.
In May 2025, as relations began to improve, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin visited Algiers and publicly requested that Algerian authorities allow Gleizes to be reunited with his mother, expressing belief that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune would be receptive to the plea.