Lens and Rouen play tribute to Christophe Gleizes in friendly
RC Lens played a friendly match against National side FC Rouen on Saturday in a show of solidarity, with proceeds from the game going to Reporters Without Borders in support of detained journalist Christophe Gleizes. The match, which finished 2-1 to Lens, was organized after Lens's Ligue 1 fixture against Paris Saint-Germain was postponed. The event was dedicated to Gleizes, a journalist who has been detained in Algeria for 286 days, with his parents present on the pitch for a moment of support before kickoff.
Lens manager Pierre Sage made eleven changes at halftime, sending out an entirely different team for the second half. The first half, featuring a more experienced Lens side, ended 0-0. The deadlock was broken in the 56th minute when Wesley Said converted a penalty, awarded for a handball by Rouen's Emric Goumot. Andrija Bulatovic doubled the lead with a superb 61st-minute free-kick. FC Rouen, who are pushing for promotion from the third-tier Championnat National, pulled a goal back in the 77th minute through a well-worked team move finished by Valentin Fuss.
The match, which was watched by over 20,000 fans at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, was played at a good intensity for a friendly. The main focus, however, was the tribute to Gleizes. Before kick-off, the club presented his family with a Lens jersey bearing his name, and a minute of applause was held in the 22nd minute, a reference to Gleizes's 22 months of detention. All proceeds from the match are being donated to Reporters Without Borders, which is working for Gleizes's release.
For Lens, the match served as vital match fitness ahead of their Coupe de France semi-final against Toulouse on April 21st. For Rouen, the game provided a high-level test as they continue their own push for promotion from the third tier. The result, however, was secondary to the show of solidarity with the detained journalist, a sentiment echoed by Lens director Benjamin Parrot, who dedicated the match to Gleizes and his family.
