Infantino calls – FIFA President Gianni Infantino used a public moment on Wednesday to call for Algeria to release French journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is serving a seven-year sentence for reporting related to JS Kabylie. Infantino said Gleizes has been credentialed for th
Mexico City — FIFA President Gianni Infantino put an absent guest at the center of a room’s attention on Wednesday, insisting there should be a seat waiting for French journalist Christophe Gleizes as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
“ There is an empty seat here in this room today, and this empty seat is for a French journalist, Christophe Gleizes, who is the only sports journalist who is detained in the world,” Infantino said. “Of course he has an accreditation, and of course he has his seat here for him.”
Infantino said he had invited Gleizes’ parents to a game featuring France and Senegal. adding that he hoped Algeria would show “grace” and allow Gleizes to join later. even if he is not there yet. “I’ve invited his parents to a game, France-Senegal. But I hope. I really hope that in a great act of humanity. he will be given grace. the presidential grace and can even join us here during the World Cup. But for the time he’s not here, his seat is here for him for Christophe.”.
The plea is tied to Gleizes’ conviction in Algeria after reporting on JS Kabylie. a successful Algerian club based in a region where the separatist Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie is active. Gleizes was detained following contact with members of the group and was convicted of “glorifying terrorism.” He received a seven-year jail sentence. The conviction was upheld after appeal. but Gleizes withdrew his appeal to the Supreme Court in March in hopes of receiving a pardon from Algeria president Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Gleizes’ family has described the conditions of imprisonment in recent weeks. His parents, who attended the recent French Cup final, were also able to visit the 37-year-old in jail. They told AFP that he is “being treated well, but he feels increasingly isolated from the outside world.”
For Infantino, the immediate step is FIFA’s credentialing decision. He said Gleizes has been accredited for the 2026 World Cup as FIFA pushes for his release.
The family’s message is aimed at keeping pressure focused as summer nears. Now, the hope is that additional support and attention may lead to a pardon this summer.
“My message is to talk about my brother because he’s really keen on football. ” Maxime Gleizes. Christophe’s brother. said in a statement released by the Sports & Rights Alliance. “He will be really glad. I will be really glad and all the family. to have a mobilization of all the journalists in the entire world during the summer of the World Cup. I hope he will be free before the tournament ends.”.
FIFA Gianni Infantino Christophe Gleizes Algeria World Cup 2026 jailed journalist JS Kabylie Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie Abdelmadjid Tebboune Sports & Rights Alliance
Empty seat, empty chances. Hope he gets out.
So FIFA is just gonna ask Algeria nicely and everything works out? I get it’s “humanity,” but journalism and “terrorism” charges usually don’t just disappear overnight. Seems like politics in a sports suit.
Wait he’s detained for reporting on a club? JS Kabylie sounds like like a sports team not a terrorist thing. But they said he was in contact with members of the group so maybe he was set up? I dunno, I just hate when people get 7 years for words.
Infantino always talking about credentials and seats and “grace” like he can fix it. If he invited the parents to France-Senegal, is that even in Mexico City like the article says? Also the JS Kabylie part is confusing because JS Kabylie is in Algeria right? Makes me think it’s more about the separatists than the journalist, but either way 7 years is wild. Really hope Algeria releases him before the 2026 World Cup starts.