Ballon d'Or ceremony raises case of French sports journalist jailed in Algeria

The plight of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria, was highlighted at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Run by France Football magazine, the prestigious football awards were held in London where presenters Kate Scott and Thierry Henry dedicated the occasion to the 37-year-old reporter.

On a large screen behind them, it stated that he had been in jail for one year, three months and 27 days and alongside his photo was the hashtag "#FreeGleize".

He was arrested on a trip to Algeria where he had gone to report on a football club in Kabylie, a region where some people want self-determination. The authorities accused him of supporting terrorism.

"The Ballon d'Or France Football family would like to take this opportunity to dedicate this ceremony to Christophe Gleizes," said British broadcaster Scott and former Arsenal player and French striker Henry as the ceremony kicked off on Monday evening.

The event, held in London for the first time in its 70-year history, saw England and Bayern Munich strike Harry Kane crowned the world's top footballer of the year and London's City's Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas taking the female prize.

Gleizes, who contributes to French magazines So Foot and Society, travelled to Algeria in May 2024 to report on Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie (JSK), one of the country's best-known football clubs.

It is based in Tizi Ouzou, about 100km (62 miles) east of the capital Algiers, in the mountainous Kabylie region, which is mainly home to the ethnic Amazigh people (historically known as Berbers).

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