Zidane’s first France media briefing draws criticism over comments on jailed journalist

Zinedine Zidane’s opening press conference as France head coach has provoked a backlash in Algeria after he publicly expressed support for imprisoned French journalist Christophe Gleizes.

The 54-year-old, officially unveiled by the Federation francaise de football (FFF) on Tuesday as successor in charge of Les Bleus, faced questions about Gleizes, who is serving a seven-year sentence in Algeria for “apologie du terrorisme” (“advocacy of terrorism”).

Zidane, a World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner in 1998 and a figure whose family roots lie in Algeria, chose to answer and voiced his backing “as a parent” for the journalist’s situation, rather than sidestepping the issue.

His decision to take a stance on such a politically sensitive matter has been sharply criticised in parts of the Algerian media. The outlet Squadra Khadra, for example, argued it would have preferred the former Real Madrid coach to avoid the subject entirely instead of aligning himself on a case that touches on Algerian sovereignty and internal security.

According to that outlet, Zidane’s position has been interpreted as “une telle soumission pour se faire bien voir au sein de la FFF” – “such submission to curry favour within the FFF” – a choice they see as prioritising his image in France over neutrality on an issue involving his country of origin.

Background to the Christophe Gleizes case

Christophe Gleizes, 37, was arrested in Algeria in May 2024 while reporting for French monthly So Foot on JS Kabylie, one of the country’s most prominent clubs.

He was later tried and handed a seven-year prison sentence on charges of “apologie du terrorisme”. He has been held in detention since June 2025.

In June this year, Gleizes’s mother and stepfather publicly complained about what they saw as a lack of visible support from leading figures in French football. They said they had reached out to several high‐profile names, including Zidane, in the hope that public backing might exert moral pressure and help raise awareness of his case.

At the same time, Gleizes’s legal team revealed that the Algerian judiciary had withdrawn its own appeal in cassation, effectively exhausting that legal pathway. With domestic legal options now narrowed, his relatives and lawyers are focusing on a possible act of clemency.

They are pinning their hopes on a presidential pardon from Algeria’s head of state, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which they see as the remaining route to securing his release.

Zidane’s new role under early scrutiny

Zidane’s appointment as France coach has been one of the most talked‐about developments in European football, given his status as a national icon and his success at club level with Real Madrid.

His first media appearance in the role was expected to focus largely on footballing themes, including his plans for the national team and his relationship with the FFF. Instead, his response to the question on Gleizes and the subsequent reaction in Algeria have added a diplomatic dimension to his early days in the job.

The episode underlines how Zidane’s dual identity – as a French legend with deep Algerian roots – continues to shape the way his words are interpreted on both sides of the Mediterranean, and how non-sporting issues can quickly intrude on the terrain of international football.