RSF - Reporters sans frontières

11/10/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/11/2026 09:18

Christophe Gleizes’ 500th day in detention: RSF organises football match with more than 40 public figures calling for his release

To mark the 500th day of detention for Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist held in Algeria, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has organised a football match between journalists, professional and amateur soccer players and other public figures in France. Created with the support of the City of Paris, the match will be broadcast live by French television channel TV5MONDE and the YouTube channels of RSF, the French Football Federation (FFF) and the French sports media outlet L'Équipe.

Christophe Gleizes is now approaching his 500th day in detention, and calling for his release is more urgent than ever.

Journalists, professional and amateur soccer players and other public figures in France, both men and women, are joining forces for a special match on 11 November at 6 p.m. CET. Their goal is not to win, but to make a collective statement: Christophe Gleizes must be released.

"Christophe Gleizes can count on this team, which is determined to secure his release, and on his growing community of supporters who stand against this injustice day after day. United around a single demand - the release of Christophe Gleizes - journalists, artists, comedians, professional and amateur soccer players, and other public figures will set aside any differences they may have to turn football into a means of mobilising support for press freedom. Everyone will play on the same team and wear the same jersey to send one message: Christophe Gleizes belongs in the stadium press box, not in prison. He must be able to freely practice his profession, reunite with his loved ones and continue to cover sports and the people who bring them to life.

Thibaut Bruttin
RSF Director General

Among the announced participants are former players for the French national team Eric Carrière, Vikash Dhorasoo, Luis Fernandez, Cédric Kanté, and Robert Pirès. They are joined by the professional footballers Alexandre Frutos, Rudi Garcia, and Charlotte Lorgeré, as well as journalists and broadcasters Florence Aubenas, Ali Baddou, Rémy Buisine, Margot Dumont, Samuel Étienne, Paul Larrouturou, Élise Lucet, Hervé Mathoux, Edwy Plenel, Marie Portolano, José Rexach, Charlotte Vautier and Tristan Waleckx.

The worlds of culture and comedy will also be represented by Tom Baldetti, Daphné Bürki, Kheiron, Léandre, Yvan Naubron, Florent Peyre, Denis Podalydès, Paul de Saint Sernin, Julien Santini, and Asfar Shamsi, alongside politicians such as Emmanuel Grégoire, the mayor of Paris, and Audrey Pulvar and Maxime Sauvage, deputy mayors of Paris.

"For 500 days now, Christophe Gleizes has been deprived of his freedom and kept far from his loved ones simply for doing his job as a sports journalist. Christophe is a Parisian, and in October the Paris City Council unanimously decided to make him a citoyen d'honneur [an honourary title given by the city of Paris to individuals involved in human rights causes]. Paris is a city of freedoms: the freedom to inform, freedom of expression, freedom of the press. We will defend these fundamental freedoms wherever they are under threat. Tonight, football brings us together to say one simple thing: no one should ever be imprisoned for asking questions or reporting on sports. Paris will continue to mobilise - together with Christophe's support committee, Reporters Without Borders and his family and his colleagues - until he can return home.

Emmanuel Grégoire
Mayor of Paris

Referees Tony Chapron and Saïd Ennjimi will also participate.

A symbolic kickoff by Christophe Gleize's parents

The football match will be a moment of solidarity with Christophe Gleizes and his loved ones. Participants will gather for a group photo in front of the illuminated Eiffel Tower, followed by a symbolic kickoff performed by the journalist's parents.

Nearly 500 people are expected to come to the event, amplifying the call for his release. When the match ends, Jean-François Vilotte, director general of the French Football Federation (FFF) will participate in the presentation of the trophy.

Follow the event live on TV5MONDE

To give this appeal global reach, international French broadcaster TV5MONDE will provide special coverage of the event in French, including a live on "64'," its flagship news program dedicated to international current events, starting at 6:30 p.m. CET, and interviews with prominent figures involved in the campaign.

The broadcast will also be available on the YouTube channels of RSF, the FFF, and the French sports media outlet L'Équipe.

So whether they are near or far, everyone can join the #FREEGLEIZES campaign on 11 November.

WATCH LIVE:

Wednesday, 11 November 2026, starting at 6:30 p.m., on TV5MONDE and the YouTube channels of RSF, the FFF, L'Équipe, and TV5MONDE Info

Published on 10.11.2026
RSF - Reporters sans frontières published this content on November 10, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 11, 2026 at 15:18 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]