Athletic took advantage of the match against Barça to perform his particular tribute to Aitor Gandiaga, the rojiblanco youth squad who played for Gernika who died last Sunday in a traffic accident. From the Bilbao club all the people present in San Mamés were urged to join in this act scheduled for the 7th minute of the game. “In minute 7 because with that number he used to play in his time at Basconia (Athletic's third team”, they explained from Ibaigane.
Players, referees, coaches, substitutes and everyone present at San Mamés stood up at the appointed time, applauding and paying attention to the video scoreboard, where the image of the deceased youth squad with the Athletic shirt and the message 'Beti gogoan' (always we will remember you”.
“This afternoon our player Aitor Gandiaga Gerrikagoitia died in a traffic accident at the age of 23. We join the feeling of pain of all his family and the people of Markina. We will never let your memory fade Gandi ”.
This is how Gernika himself announced the death of his young soccer player. Aitor Gandiaga, from 23 years and trained in Lezama, he died in an accident. The vehicle he was driving, specifically, collided with a bus
.
The mourning reactions have not been long in coming since then. From Athletic to Muniain through Ibai, the AFE, the RFEF, many elite football clubs as well as the bronze one and even foreign media. President Elizegi himself took advantage of his appearance at Marcelino's presentation press conference to “dedicate a message to those close to Aitor Gandiaga. May he rest in peace, a bad time for the family. That sad day will remain in memory for all of us in the middle of Christmas ”.