An empty chair sat in the Mexico City press room, reserved for a man serving a seven-year sentence. FIFA President Gianni Infantino placed Christophe Gleizes’ name on the seat during the pre-World Cup press conference, granting the journalist full tournament accreditation he cannot use.
Gleizes, the only French journalist currently imprisoned worldwide, was arrested in May 2024 while researching the history of Algerian football club JS Kabylie. Authorities charged him with terrorism-linked offenses for alleged contact with the banned separatist group MAK. An Algerian appeals court upheld his sentence in December 2025.
Infantino called publicly for Gleizes’ release and invited his parents to attend the France-Senegal match. Press freedom advocates praised the gesture as a vital act of solidarity on the sport’s largest stage. Gleizes has since dropped further appeals to pursue a presidential pardon.
Human rights organizations have long documented Algeria’s use of terrorism charges against journalists and activists. Gleizes’ imprisonment remains emblematic of that broader crackdown.