The International Hockey Federation is saddened at the passing of Alain Danet, a long-standing ambassador of hockey at all levels for more than four decades.

Mr Danet's membership of the FIH Council began in 1963 and lasted an extraordinary 38 years until 2001when the executive arm of the organisation was restructured. In 1984 he was presented with the FIH Award of Merit.

Mr Danet's was also the President of the European Hockey Federation from 1974-2003 and Fédération Française de Hockey from 1962-1966 and 1972-1980.

A memorial service will be held for Mr Danet in Paris in the next two weeks.