Political Leaders Criticize FIFA President’s Remarks on Detained French Sports Journalist Christophe Gleizes, Calling Them Interference in Algeria’s Judicial Affairs
BY Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS — Leaders of several Algerian political parties have criticized remarks attributed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the detention of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes, describing them as interference in Algeria’s internal judicial affairs, according to statements made during election campaign rallies.
Speaking during campaign events ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for 2 July, the Secretary-General of the National Rally for Democracy (RND), Monder Bouden, and the President of El Bina Movement, Abdelkader Bengrina, said the FIFA president’s comments on the case of journalist Christophe Gleizes amounted to an inappropriate focus on an ongoing judicial matter.
The leaders argued that the FIFA president’s intervention disregarded broader concerns they associated with the treatment of media professionals and sports delegations in international competitions, referring in particular to travel restrictions and entry procedures affecting journalists and teams covering global tournaments.
Bengrina stated during a public rally that attention should instead be directed toward procedural and administrative constraints faced by media professionals and sports personnel in international sporting contexts, including visa-related limitations affecting coverage of major events.
In his remarks, Bouden suggested that external commentary on the case risked politicizing a judicial process, and called for attention to broader organizational and logistical issues affecting participants in international football events.
The debate comes as the FIFA World Cup organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico continues to face political scrutiny over organizational and geopolitical issues, including criticism voiced by public figures and former athletes regarding tournament governance and broader international sports policy questions.
Separately, public discourse has also reflected wider controversies surrounding FIFA’s decision-making in past international sporting exclusions, with commentators raising questions about consistency in disciplinary measures applied to national teams in different geopolitical contexts.
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