Philippe Diallo brought together this Thursday, at the headquarters of the French Football Federation, the support committee for Christophe Gleizes, a French journalist detained in Algeria.
“The FFF calls for the release of Christophe Gleizes”. Accompanied by his portrait, this sentence has been hanging over the front of the headquarters of the French Football Federation in the 15th arrondissement of the capital since Wednesday. This Thursday, the day after this strong gesture of support, the president of “3F”, Philippe Diallo, brought together the support committee of the French journalist, sentenced to seven years in prison on appeal by the Algerian justice system for “apology of terrorism”.
Before starting his speech, shortly after 7 p.m., Philippe Diallo assures that these are “events that we don’t want to organize”. The president of the FFF made it clear that it was “the only French journalist detained in the world.” In his speech, Philippe Diallo recalls the values that unite the world of football, before promising that these “values will be transformed into action.” Something promised, something due. Last week, the FFF announced that it would erect the portrait of Christophe Gleizes on the facade of the Boulevard de Grenelle building.
Also read
Conviction of Christophe Gleizes: “Absolutely incredible reluctance”, how the world of football reacts
Skip the ad
An idea supported by Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, who came “to share the worry”. The former sports minister promises “until before Christmas”the portrait of the French journalist will also appear on the facade of the CNOSF.
Don’t be afraid, you can join us.
Francis Godard, on the lack of support from footballers
In the eyes of those close to him – Christophe Gleizes’ mother, his stepfather and his brother Maxime – gratitude is felt. Even if Francis Godard, the journalist’s father-in-law, is saddened by the lack of speech from football players. He then launches a call: “We are above politics. Don’t be afraid, you can join us.”
Le Figaro – Louis Fumeron
Sylvie Godard, the mother of the 36-year-old journalist, warmly thanked the French Football Federation for its commitment. “Football is an extraordinary communion”she slips. Before adding a little touch of humor, recalling that his son was not “not very good on the field.”
Support on the pitches in the Coupe de France
If many people were gathered this evening – like the support committee of our colleague and Reporters Without Borders, which supports the family “from the beginning”as Sylvie Godard reminds us – it is because of “the unjust sentence” by Christophe Gleizes, as Philippe Diallo points out. French journalist, collaborating in particular with the magazines Society and So Foot, Christophe Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 in Algeria, where he went to Tizi-Ouzou, 100 km from Algiers, for a report on the local Jeunesse sportive de Kabylie (JSK) team. Still held in Algeria since then, our colleague was sentenced on December 3 to seven years in prison on appeal by the Algerian justice system for “apology of terrorism”.
“Accusations that are based on nothing”as Emmanuel Daoud, the journalist’s French lawyer, claims. He recalled that the cassation appeal had been pronounced and that the day after the conviction, the Agenais native had called for support from the world of sport. It’s done. In addition to the numerous supports, like this evening organized at the headquarters of the French Football Federation, many acts will still take place. From Friday, during the Round of 32 matches of the Coupe de France where “the name of Christophe Gleizes will be pronounced by the announcers on all the lawns”as Philippe Diallo points out. A strong gesture, which accompanies that of the portrait on the facade of the building, which will only be removed when “Christophe will be released.”
