Trophée des champions backs calls to free Christophe Gleizes as Lens face PSG | OneFootball

The Trophée des champions between RC Lens and Paris Saint-Germain became a platform to back calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Christophe Gleizes, a French journalist imprisoned in Algeria.

According to L'Équipe, the Ligue de Football Professionnel joined Lens and PSG around the match to deliver the message.

Gleizes, a SoPress and SoFoot journalist, has been in detention for 413 days and was sentenced to seven years for doing his job. He is awaiting a presidential pardon after choosing to exhaust all legal appeals.

Appeals for his release have previously come from FIFA and Gianni Infantino, the FFF and Didier Deschamps, as well as media across the world. His family and Reporters Without Borders continue to press for his return.

The push has not eased with the new season. On his first day in charge, Zinédine Zidane, the new head coach, expressed support for Gleizes and his family, saying they hope he can come home. At Bollaert, his portrait appeared on the big screen and the #FreeGleizes message showed on pitchside boards.

Source: L'Équipe

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