Empty seat at World Cup for imprisoned French sports journalist

A seat will remain empty in the press box for every France match at the World Cup to draw attention to the imprisonment of French sports journalist, Olivier Dubois, in Algeria. Dubois, a correspondent for the French newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné, was arrested in April 2022 in Mali and subsequently transferred to Algeria. His detention has been a point of concern for French media organizations and the French government. The empty seat initiative is intended to keep his case in the public eye and advocate for his release. The World Cup commenced on November 20, 2022, and France's first match was on November 22, 2022. This action underscores the risks faced by journalists working in certain regions and the importance of press freedom.