Hungarian soccer was in a state of shock after the death of their international player Miklos Feher, the second football tragedy to hit the country in two years.

"We are very shocked, it's unbelievable," Sandór Berzi, general secretary of the Hungarian Football Federation (HFF) said.

National coaches and officials of the teams in Group Eight of the World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign are meeting in Malta to draw up the fixtures schedule.

"Feher's death is a tragedy for football, especially for Hungary," Berzi added. "It's devastating to see a young player dying on a football pitch during a game.

"Two years ago, Pal Dardai, a Hungary international who plays for Hertha Berlin in Germany, lost his younger brother in similar circumstances. It's the second tragedy for our football in less than two years," Berzi said.

Berzi said the HFF have got in contact with Feher's family. They also spoke to the Minister of Sport and Gyor Eto, his former club, to accord Feher a state funeral.

Berzi, together with HFF president Imre Bozóky and national coach Lothar Matthaeus touched down in Malta yesterday ahead of today's meeting.

Feher was described by Berzi as a modest person who only wanted to pursue a successful career in soccer.

"He (Feher) was a quiet guy, very shy but at the same time, ambitious. He wanted to be a good player and left for Portugal at a very young age. A good football career was his greatest ambition. Feher never had any problems with his team-mates or coach... he was an exemplary professional," Berzi recalled.

Feher's death is sure to cast a shadow over the meeting of the Group Eight nations but Berzi said the HFF had to be present for this important gathering.

"We have to go ahead with this meeting," Berzi said. "There is a deadline issued by FIFA for such meetings. All the other associations are present here. It's a tragic situation but we have to proceed with our plans."