Aitor López Rekarte (Arrasate, 1975) played a fatal match on December 8, 1998 against Atlético, which took place while Zabaleta was struggling between life and death. He already knew his name and family. He still felt the pain of that day. This is his conversation with MD Gipuzkoa.
25 years ago, what comes to my mind first?
Lots of mixed emotions. It was the first time I thought: ‘I don’t know how important football is.’ In Calderón they welcomed us with stones, we are used to it. But once that line is crossed, that’s when you consider a lot of things. Something has developed in football that does nothing to keep people calm. It was seen in the game against Benfica here, along with the flares. In this case, it happened close to us and it was a very hard blow.
You know Zabaleta, what is he?
We lack everything that can be said. He is above all a happy person, likes to have fun. And look what he found. What should have been a party was a very difficult situation to deal with.
There was a sense of a strange atmosphere, of tension, right?
Yes, people were warned. But it was not easy. Aitor, for example, wants to please his team, Real. Since then, I have told those close to me to remain cautious when traveling outside. There are uncontrolled contexts and spaces. You won’t get lost if you’re wearing a t-shirt. You always have that fear. A lot has happened to me.
For example?
In a final league match at the Bernabéu, we won and we had an episode that was not easy for the people I was with. You never know what people are capable of when you’ve had these experiences. You are scared and it is quite sad that this is happening in football.
When you were on the bus, did you get that tense atmosphere, of certain violence?
Well, I tell you, Calderón is the usual field where they welcome us with stones. It’s the same as before.
At what point do you know a Real fan has been stabbed?
In half an hour they told us that something had happened, but none of us knew the true seriousness of what had happened. We are involved in the game and then it is more difficult. And the bad thing is that we can’t do anything, we can’t lift a finger until the tragedy is over. And when the game was over, it was clear that this tragedy was about to happen. We know what happened and we try to be as close to them and the family as possible. For me it was a very difficult experience.
He was one of those who went to the hospital
Yes, many players are in the hospital. And they are very ‘heavy’ moments.
Did you know that Aitor Zabaleta?
Yes, I know it. At first, it was a mystery, they told us he was a fan of ours; But once a few of us were in the hospital, we knew who he was and how close he was to some of us.
He died at three in the morning, are they still in the hospital?
Yes, we were there. wow I don’t even remember how long we were in the hospital. A lot. It’s so hard to know that he’s debating between life and death and when they tell you, even more so. And that feeling of helplessness, that you can’t do anything. We all wonder what we can do to prevent that from happening; but sometimes it escapes what you can do at a given moment.
Shouldn’t the match have been suspended?
When you know what’s going on, you don’t think about the game or the suspension or anything. The seriousness of the matter is paramount, of course. We can’t do anything. We had to play. Should it be suspended? Maybe yes. Then, for a while we didn’t want to compete. We were really hit. We walked slowly, time helped us move forward. I was someone close to him and also a Real player and we all felt really identified with everything that happened.
Another Aitor, Aldeondo, said upon returning from Madrid: “If it’s football, I hate football.”
The great Aitor Aldeondo. It combines all our feelings into one sentence. Everything falls apart after that. Aitor Zabaleta came to support us, to enjoy the game and it ended like this.
Then he tried to be close to the family
Yes. We always do this. Furthermore, at Real we have become a family throughout our lives. Yes, we try to be there, close; even if you weren’t as close as you were, however. I went through a period where I didn’t know where I was going. It was not easy. We try to help and support each other in our own way. We lived through some raw moments, but we had to hope and each of us lived.
The only good thing here is that no one forgets Aitor Zabaleta
Yes, and it’s also the lowest. In football and in life we need some recognition. This is the lowest, for all of us alive. Although there are people who have never met Aitor and never experienced these moments, at least they are present and not forgotten. I think things are done well in that, so that it will be remembered. Let it be a symbol, let it serve as an example so it won’t happen again. The fact that the Zabaleta Stand is there will always be a reminder of what happened and could happen and a recognition for him, above all, and for the family.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
