Uefa Marks Christmas Day World War Truce

On Christmas Day 100 years ago, British and German troops organised a spontaneous cessation of hostilities, meeting each other between the trenches in no man’s land to exchange gifts, sing Christmas carols together, and play an impromptu football match.

Yesterday (11th December) UEFA celebrated the historical event during a ceremony in a village near Ypres in Belgium, with a special memorial unveiled by the federation’s president Michel Platini, accompanied by royalty and dignitaries from both sides.

Platini said: ‘This remembrance ceremony pays homage to the soldiers who, a century ago, expressed their humanity by coming together to play football, thereby opening an important chapter in the construction of European unity and serving as an example for today’s young people to follow.’

Branding agency Designwerk was commissioned to create the memorial, which has been based on the look of an old exploded shell dug up from the actual site of the football match. The monument was produced by sculpture company MDM, and is made from steel. The top of the sculpture will include a replica of a period leather football.

The memorial piece will sit on a stone platform with two cracks extending from its base, which turn gradually into representations of two war trenches. To commemorate the anniversary, a special football match will take place each year on the site.