The Spanish Government has attempted to expel a local hockey club from a
tournament in Catalonia. Grammarians were representing Gibraltar in the 65th
anniversary of the ‘Torneo de Reyes’. The local side, who were competing in the
event as a Gibraltar Selection, were set to play the prestigious ‘Real Club de
Polo’ of Barcelona, when a representative of the national Ministry for Sport
reportedly told the tournament organisers there would be sanctions if they
allowed the game to go ahead.
As is the case with all local hockey clubs, Grammarians are full members
of the European Hockey Federation and the International Hockey Federation
though their membership of the Gibraltar Hockey Association. Both the GHA and
Grammarians compete regularly in official European tournaments. The Grammarians
had paid an entrance fee for the tournament in Barcelona and had already played
against a 'European All Stars' selection, before the Spanish Government is said
to have leaned on the tournament organisers to oust them.
Grammarians Captain, Carl Ramagge, told GBC: "The news completely
destroyed the team's morale; they had to think long and hard about whether to
continue competing or not but decided that quitting would be to give the
Spanish Government what they wanted. So they didn’t. The game against Polo -
one of Spain's most prestigious hockey clubs - was set to be broadcast live on
Catalonian television, but it never took place. Instead Grammarians played
against Canadian opposition on a side pitch, away from the public eye.
The local hockey players had provided the tournament organisers with a
Gibraltar flag, but it was never flown alongside the Spanish, Canadian,
Catalonian and Irish flags. The Union Jack did fly, but that was because
British teams competed in the tournament's junior section.
Despite the political
intervention by the Spanish Ministry for Sport, Ramagge said the players kept
their heads held high: "I'm really proud of my team and the dignity and
spirit they showed".
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