Christophe Gleizes’ parents in New York say he should be here among you | OneFootball

The parents of Christophe Gleizes addressed media in New York on Monday on the sidelines of Les Bleus’ press conference. They thanked FIFA for granting him accreditation, but said he, not they, should be the one in the room.

According to L'Équipe, Sylvie and Francis Godard have spent the past year travelling to grounds in France and beyond to rally support for their son's release. Gleizes, a journalist, has been imprisoned in Algeria for more than a year.

They said his situation in detention is unchanged and the wait is wearing on him. After visiting him last week, they left more downcast than before, feeling his morale was low. They added he has lost his sense of time and they keep urging him to hold on.

The couple said exchanges are taking place between Algeria and France with a view to a release, but criticised the opacity of the process. They said he sees no movement yet.

They declined to comment at length on prominent French figures who have stayed in the background, saying that is their choice.

Gleizes was arrested in May 2024 in Algeria while reporting on the football club Jeunesse sportive de Kabylie (JSK). Initially placed under judicial supervision, he was jailed in June 2025 after being convicted of "apologie du terrorisme" and sentenced to seven years. In March he withdrew a cassation appeal, hoping to open the way to a presidential pardon.

Source: L'Équipe