World Cup press box keeps seat empty for jailed French journalist Gleizes

A seat is reserved at every France press area at 2026 World Cup games to protest a French journalist’s seven-year sentence in Algeria.

Empty seat protest begins At each France match during the 2026 World Cup, journalists are leaving an empty seat in the press box to draw attention to Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist imprisoned in Algeria. Gleizes was sentenced to seven years in 2025 on charges of supporting terrorism. French media unions have demanded his release, citing his work covering African football for the Paris-based So Foot magazine. Gleizes’ mother, Sylvie, traveled to the tournament to speak on his behalf. ## Scarves and accreditation on display Before Didier Deschamps’ pre-match press conference at the New Jersey New York Stadium, journalists held up scarves printed with the message ‘Free Gleizes’. Gleizes’ accreditation for the 2026 World Cup, personally approved by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was shown during the session. His mother described how he felt “cut off” from the outside world while in prison. At every France news conference, a chair now remains empty to symbolize his absence. ## Questions raised in his name Reporter Vincent Duluc of French daily L’Equipe posed a question during Deschamps’ briefing on behalf of Gleizes, asking about hydration breaks. Deschamps responded by saying, “I hope for his sake and his family’s that he can be here as soon as possible and ask his questions himself.” Gleizes specializes in African football coverage and his case has drawn widespread attention from colleagues. ## Family’s World Cup presence Sylvie Gleizes attended the World Cup to advocate for her son’s release, speaking to the media outside the New Jersey New York Stadium on Monday. She emphasized that his accreditation had been personally approved by FIFA leadership. The empty seat gesture extends to press conferences, where a chair is kept vacant throughout France’s matches. Journalists continue to call for his immediate release from detention.