FIH has learnt that the shocking attacks in Paris have also cost the life of Thomas Ayad, former field hockey player in Amiens, France. Thomas Ayad died aged 32 when working at the concert in the Bataclan music hall on the evening of 13 November.
Thomas began playing hockey aged seven with the Sporting Club d'Amiens (S.C.A), following in the footsteps of his grandfather who played hockey in Algeria. With Amiens he won the French Junior Championships.
The Paris attacks are an act of horrifying brutality and they also affront the very values of our sport. Friendship and respect are core values on the field of play and the basis for the unifying character of hockey and sport in general.
The entire hockey family has joined me in condemning the Paris attacks and in mourning Thomas Ayad. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, hockey team mates and the French Hockey Federation.
In this difficult time, our thoughts are also with the other families and friends of those who have been killed or wounded.
The hockey team from the Racing Club de Paris taking a clear stance
