The sad news that Martí Colomer, former President of the Spanish Hockey Federation, passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning cast a pall on proceedings at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in Valencia and Spain.
Tributes have been pouring in for a man who was loved and respected throughout the hockey world.
Leandro Negre, FIH President, paid tribute to Marti: "I had a very close friendship with him. He was the man who, being President of the Catalan Hockey Federation, encouraged me, when I was very young, to start my career as a hockey manager.”
"He was my Vice President when I was President of the Spanish Federation and he went on to succeed me in this position. He was the President during the golden time for Spanish Hockey when Spain won the European Cup and played in the Olympic and World Cup Finals.
"He was a very good friend of mine, with an open mind and always ready to help everybody. I have learnt a lot from him."
A tribute on the Spanish Hockey Federation website read: "Marti Colomer has been everything in the world of hockey – player, manager, President of Catalan Hockey Federation and President of the RFEH (Spanish Hockey Federation). Everyone will remember Marti for being a great person, loved by everyone and anyone, who best represented the spirit and virtue of our sport."
