Lens Defeat Rouen in Friendly Dedicated to Jailed Journalist
RC Lens played a friendly match against FC Rouen on Saturday, dedicating the game to journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is currently imprisoned in Algeria. The match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Lens, was organized after their scheduled Ligue 1 fixture against Paris Saint-Germain was postponed. The postponement, requested by PSG to prepare for their Champions League tie, was granted by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).
Lens used the opportunity to host a charity match at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, with proceeds and awareness directed towards the case of Gleizes, a French-Algerian football journalist sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria. Lens's director general, Benjamin Parrot, dedicated the match to Gleizes, emphasizing the club's support. "We are focused on Christophe," Parrot said in an interview with Ligue 1. "The whole club is mobilizing today. We want to bring an imprisonment we cannot tolerate back to the center of the pitch, one that has fallen into a form of media anonymity. We need to get things moving again."
The match, which featured a strong Lens lineup, served a dual purpose: maintaining the team's match fitness ahead of their crucial league run-in and drawing public attention to Gleizes' case. The 2-1 victory, while a useful exercise, was secondary to the event's primary humanitarian goal. The club actively encouraged supporters to sign a petition calling for Gleizes's release, directing fans to an online petition.
Gleizes, a journalist with a deep passion for football and African football in particular, was convicted in Algeria on charges that have been widely criticized by press freedom organizations. The match against third-tier side Rouen provided a platform for Lens to amplify the campaign for his release. The decision to host a friendly, rather than simply take time off, was a strategic choice by the club to maintain competitive sharpness. The Ligue 1 calendar is notoriously congested, and with PSG focused on European competition, Lens sought an alternative to keep their squad active.
For Lens, currently competing in the top half of Ligue 1, the friendly provided valuable minutes for the first team. The club's sporting director, in a post-match statement, noted the importance of maintaining rhythm during an unexpected pause in the league schedule. The club's initiative to turn a postponed fixture into a platform for a human rights cause has been widely praised, demonstrating the club's commitment to social issues beyond the pitch. The 2-1 result, while not the primary focus, will serve as a minor confidence boost as Lens continues its campaign in the league and looks to secure European qualification for a second consecutive season.
