“Killed for opposing fascist ideas”: the touching letter from the rugby world about the crime of former Puma Aramburu

On March 19, Argentine rugby received terrible news. In the early hours of Paris, former player Federico Martín Aramburu was killed after starring in a dispute in a bar in the area central location in the French capital. The police quickly acted and arrested three people, one of them named Loïk Le Priol, a 27-year-old man accused of being the perpetrator material of the fact.

Time passed and while waiting for clarification of what happened that night, a month after the murder, friends and personalities of rugby from France and around the world published a tribute letter in which they clarified that for them, the former member of the Pumas, he was killed for defending his values. This is what the title of the article that was presented in the sports newspaper L'Equipe cites. “Federico Martín Aramburu died for defending his values.”

The beginning of the publication, which was written in agreement with the former rugbier's family and with the support of his cousin Raúl Alconada Sempé, Secretary of Special Affairs of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, is overwhelming. “Killed for opposing extremist and fascist ideas. No, Federico's death is not news, a matter of common law as some would have you believe. It is the expression of “a state of violence that exists, that we cannot ignore, that we cannot integrate into everyday life” (Emmanuel Mounier, French philosopher). Fede carried with him the values of rugby and humanism.”

The letter bears dozens of signatures, from that of the president of the French Rugby Federation, Bernanrd Laporte, to that of former teammates of the national team such as Felipe Contepomi and that of different players, former players, coaches and former coaches from around the world.

In one of the excerpts of the article, the editors refer to the event that triggered the murder of Aramburu. “Frederick and Shaun (Hegarty) were off the pitch and, as always, they did not allow words to be spoken contrary to their thinking, their education, their philosophy of life. They didn't turn their heads pretending they didn't see anything, but chose to react, to what was obvious to them,” says another part of the letter.

In this connection, it should be remembered that Aramburu was at the Le Mabillon bar with his friend Hegarty, former Biarritz teammate and his partner in the travel company Esprit Basque, when he had an interview with two men: Le Priol and Romain Bouvier. That conflict caused the security of the premises to drive out the French and some time later, when the Argentine and his partner left the place, they were reunited on public roads. There was a confrontation that ended, a few minutes later, with the murder of the former Puma by several gunshots.

“We cannot accept that one of our own will be assassinated in 2022 in the heart of the French capital, because he respected and applied these values, to which we add generosity, benevolence, the struggle for social justice and above all the love of sharing with family and friendship,” says another fragment of the letter. In reference to values, the signatories of the article emphasized that Frederic based his life on integrity, passion, discipline, respect and solidarity.

“Never again should a human being die in these conditions, never again should a family be mourned for reasons of far-right ideology, we will continue to fight for our values, our ideas, we will always fight against those who want to let hatred into our country. Our differences are our wealth. We are a Nation”, concludes the tribute promoted by the rugby community in France, of which Aramburu was a part and in which he was a reference for his time as a player and leader.

It should be remembered that in the days after his death, on all the courts where matches of the Top 14 of French rugby were played, he was paid tribute, just as in a match played by the French men's national team. A ceremony was held at the Sainte Eugénie church in Biarritz and was broadcast on a giant screen placed in front of the sea in this city on the French Basque coast, where hundreds of people were present. The remains of Aramburu entered the church before the eyes of his wife Maria and their two daughters, Trinidad and Justina.

The complete letter in tribute to one month after the death of Aramburu

“Killed for opposing extremist and fascist ideas. No, Federico's death is not news, a matter of common law as some want to imply. It is the expression “of a state of violence that exists, that we cannot ignore, that we cannot integrate into everyday life” (Emmanuel Mounier, French philosopher). “Fede” had in it the values of rugby, of humanism

We, players, former players, coaches, coaches, club executives have these same values in us, instilled from an early age in our clubs and villages.

Since 2009, World Rugby bodies have integrated these values into their global charter, “a roadmap aimed at preserving the uniqueness of rugby both on and off the field”.

Frederick and Shaun (Hegarty) were off the pitch and, as always, they did not allow words to be spoken contrary to their thinking, their education, their philosophy of life. They didn't turn their heads pretending they didn't see anything (*) but chose to react, which was obvious to them.

In the official text of this letter, the first value cited is integrity, which encompasses fair play and honesty. We accept the rules and we must demonstrate intellectual honesty.

The second value is passion, which inspires us all, from the moment we put the crampons on the first clod of grass at 5 or 6 years old until the end of the third part when, as adults, we usually sing out of tune but together, in brotherhood. Then comes solidarity, synonymous with collective, loyalty, team spirit that unites us forever, without social, cultural, geographical, political, color or religious differences.

It's also about discipline, we try to stick to it every moment, every minute of our lives, in training and off the field, even when it's not easy.

Finally, respect, the fundamental value of our sport and therefore of our lives, respect for our families, respect in relationships with others, respect in the education of our children, respect for those who do not think like us, respect for the adversary in the field, respect for others as a whole, and transmitting this respect whenever we can.

Those who murdered Federico are polar opposites to these values, to our values.

We cannot accept that one of our own is assassinated in 2022 in the heart of the French capital, because he respected and applied these values, to which we add generosity, benevolence, the struggle for social justice and above all the love of sharing with family and friendship in memory of Frederick.

On March 19, at dawn, we could have been each of us in Federico's place. Today, we always try to understand the unacceptable, the unthinkable in our life programs and in our hearts.

Never again should a human being die under these conditions, never again should a family be mourned for reasons of far-right ideology, we will continue to fight for our values, our ideas, we will always fight against those who want to let hatred into our country. Our differences are our wealth. We are a nation.

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