RC Lens holds friendly match to support journalist Christophe Gleizes
French club RC Lens has hosted a friendly match to raise awareness and support for the release of journalist Christophe Gleizes, who has been detained in Algeria for 286 days. The match, which took place at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, saw Lens face FC Rouen in a fixture dedicated to Gleizes, a sports journalist.
The event, held on Tuesday, was organized to draw attention to Gleizes' continued detention. According to close friends and family in attendance, the match was part of a broader campaign to secure his release. The journalist's mother, Sylvie, and his stepfather, Francis, were present and received a standing ovation from the 20,074-strong crowd after performing a ceremonial kick-off.
Gleizes, a sports journalist, has been detained in Algeria since his arrest. The match was organized in part by the club's director general, Benjamin Parrot, who contacted Gleizes's friends to arrange the event. The journalist's supporters wore 'Free Gleizes' scarves and distributed t-shirts with his image to players and fans. The club, which was among the first to sign a petition for his release, has formally supported the campaign. The match itself ended in a 2-1 victory for the home side, with Wesley Said and Andrija Bulatovic scoring for Lens, while Valentin Fuss scored for Rouen.
In a statement, the club said the event was intended to "amplify the call for his release." Gleizes' mother, Sylvie, addressed the crowd, stating, "We live, sleep, and act for Christophe." The family expressed profound gratitude for the support from the football community, with his stepfather adding they would ensure Christophe knew of the event held in his honor.
The match was played in a unique atmosphere, with fans from both RC Lens and visiting FC Rouen joining in chants of support for the journalist. The event underscored the football community's role in advocating for press freedom, with Lens supporters and players using the platform to call for Gleizes's safe return. The club and its supporters have been vocal in their campaign, which has also seen a petition gather over 30,000 signatures calling for his release.
