PARIS: Right before the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, the sports journalists’ associations of England, Argentina, Spain and France are sending a message of support to French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, a contributor to the French magazine So Foot.
The four associations — the UJSF, AEPD, FAPED and SJA — are calling for the release of their colleague, who has been detained in Algeria since June 2025. AIPS and AIPS Europe naturally join this appeal.
As their respective national teams prepare to face one another in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals in the United States, the Union des journalistes sportifs français (UJSF), the Asociación Española de la Prensa Deportiva (AEPD), the Federación Argentina de Periodistas Deportivos (FAPED) and the Sports Journalists’ Association of Great Britain (SJA) have joined forces to issue a message of solidarity with their fellow journalist Christophe Gleizes.
Imprisoned since 29 June 2025, Christophe Gleizes, a contributor to the French magazines So Foot and Society, has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment simply for doing his job as a journalist.
A French sports journalist, Christophe should be with us covering this World Cup, reporting on the players’ achievements, sharing the emotions of football, and freely practising his profession. Instead, his seat in the press box remains empty.
At a time when football brings people together and embodies the universal values of freedom, respect and solidarity, we refuse to accept that a journalist should be imprisoned for his work. On the occasion of the semi-finals, our thoughts are with Christophe. We hope that he will soon be reunited with his family, his fellow journalists and the football pitches, where he should be today. Once again, we call for his release and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to press freedom everywhere in the world.
UJSF, AEPD, FAPED, SJA with the support of AIPS and AIPS Europe.
