Christmas Truce 1914: UEFA invites heads of states to commemorate 100^th anniversary on 17/12/2014

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) wishes to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Christmas Truce of 1914, during which soldiers from both sides informally and spontaneously ceased fighting, and played football on a field located between the trenches in Flanders at the beginning of the First World War. The international regulatory body made the announcement on 08/04/2014.

Michel Platini, the UEFA president, has invited the heads of state and/or government of the nations involved (France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom) to the commemoration that will be held on 17/12/2014, on the eve of the European Council meeting in Brussels (BEL). He has also invited the presidents of the football federations of these countries.

The selected sites are Ypres and Comines-Warneton, two Belgian cities near the site of the informal 1914 football match. A memorial service will be held in the church of St. Martin of Ypres. The UEFA president will address the audience and an animated film about the match will be screened. UEFA also plans to erect a monument on the spot…