Football World Rallies for Algerian Journalist Release

From the first television appearance of Christophe Gleizes’ parents, on July 3, his father-in-law, Francis Godard, mentioned the dream of public support for the 1998 world champion Zinédine Zidane. “It would be great if he got involved in this fight”he said on the set of “20 Heures” on France 2. This push for the release of the French journalist, detained since the end of June in Tizi Ouzou, in Algeria, has not happened so far.

However, the world of football has not remained indifferent to the cause of the So Press reporter (So Foot, Society) sentenced on appeal, on December 3, to seven years in prison, notably for “apology of terrorism”.

Algerian justice accuses him of having entered the country with a simple tourist visa while his activity requires a press visa, but above all of having had exchanges with officials of the Jeunesse sportif de Kabylie football club, some of whom are linked to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie, classified by Algiers in 2021 as “terrorist organization”. Contesting these accusations, he filed an appeal on Sunday, December 14. An option that he could renounce if a presidential pardon was granted to him.

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Marcus Cole

Marcus Cole is a senior football analyst at Archysport with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, college football, and international football leagues. A former NCAA Division I player turned journalist, Marcus brings an insider's understanding of the game to every breakdown. His work focuses on tactical analysis, draft evaluations, and in-depth game previews. When he's not breaking down film, Marcus covers the intersection of football culture and the communities it shapes across America.

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