Ballon d’Or Ceremony Highlights Case of French Journalist Jailed in Algeria

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London has drawn international attention to the case of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria.

Presenters Kate Scott and former France international Thierry Henry dedicated the prestigious football awards ceremony to the 37-year-old journalist, who has been detained since June 2025. The tribute took place on Monday, 26 October, before the winners of the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards were announced. <Cite refs={[“turn612127search0″,”turn612127search2”]}/>

A large screen displayed Gleizes’s photograph alongside the hashtag “#FreeGleize”, stating that he had spent one year, three months and 27 days in detention. The moment used the global audience of one of football’s most prominent events to draw attention to his case and wider concerns about press freedom.

“The Ballon d’Or France Football family would like to take this opportunity to dedicate this ceremony to Christophe Gleizes,” the presenters said, expressing hope that he would soon reunite with his family and colleagues.

Why was Gleizes imprisoned?

Gleizes, who contributes to French publications So Foot and Society, travelled to Algeria in May 2024 to report on Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK), one of the country’s best-known football clubs.

The club is based in Tizi Ouzou, approximately 100 kilometres east of Algiers, in the mountainous Kabylie region, which is predominantly inhabited by the Amazigh people, historically known as Berbers.

The region is also home to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), an organisation that Algeria designated a terrorist group in 2021.

Algerian authorities accused Gleizes of supporting terrorism and possessing publications considered harmful to national security. His case centred partly on his contacts with a JSK official associated with the MAK.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international press freedom organisation campaigning for his release, has argued that the journalist’s communications occurred in the course of his professional work. The organisation has also noted that some of his contacts predated the group’s designation as a terrorist organisation.

Gleizes was sentenced to seven years in prison in June 2025, and an Algerian appeals court upheld the sentence in December that year.

During his appeal hearing, he acknowledged mistakes in his reporting and said he should have applied for a journalist visa instead of entering Algeria on a tourist visa. He appealed to the court for mercy, asking to be reunited with his family.

Prosecutors maintained that his visit was not intended for legitimate journalistic work but constituted a hostile act.

Growing calls for his release

The case has attracted increasing attention from journalists, football personalities and press freedom advocates, particularly amid strained relations between France and Algeria.

In May 2026, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin visited Algiers and urged the Algerian authorities to allow Gleizes to return home. He said he hoped the journalist could be reunited with his mother.

The case has also drawn comparisons with other writers and public figures who have faced prosecution in Algeria, raising broader concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of journalists.

Solidarity match planned for November

RSF has announced a solidarity football match in Paris for 11 November, marking Gleizes’s 500th day in detention. The event aims to increase pressure for his release and highlight the importance of press freedom.

Former French internationals Robert Pirès and Vikash Dhorasoo, alongside Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, are among the first participants announced.

The Ballon d’Or tribute adds a prominent international platform to the campaign, bringing Gleizes’s case before millions of viewers worldwide.

As calls for his release continue, his imprisonment remains a major concern for press freedom advocates, who insist that journalists must be able to report on sensitive issues without being punished for carrying out their professional duties.