Kay Bernstein is dead. The news about Hertha’s president shocked the entire sports world – there is great sympathy.
Kay Bernstein, President of Hertha BSC, died unexpectedly at the age of 43. The football club is now saying goodbye to its president, who was once active as a lead singer in the fan curve. Hertha announced on Tuesday: “The entire club, its committees and employees are stunned and deeply dismayed. The Hertha family mourns with Kay’s survivors and is thinking of his family, friends and companions during this difficult time.”
Clubs from the Bundesliga and 2nd League took part and reacted with dismay. The President of FC Bayern, Herbert Hainer, said about Bernstein’s death: “FC Bayern is united in mourning with the entire football family of Kay Bernstein. Our thoughts are with the family, relatives, companions and his club Hertha BSC.”
VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that they were at a loss for words. “Our condolences go out to his relatives, friends and the entire Hertha family,” VfB added. Bayer Leverkusen, for example, found similar words: “We are very affected,” wrote the first in the table on X. Other clubs also expressed their condolences on social media. “So much would have been possible on this path, but it has now gone, and far too soon,” wrote Energie Cottbus.
Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner could not believe the news of the death. He shared: “I am stunned and deeply shocked by Kay Bernstein’s death. At the age of 43, he was in the middle of life. With his Berlin journey, he has only just managed to reunite fans and the club. My thoughts are with his family and friends in these difficult times.” Green Party leader Omid Nouripour added: “I am deeply saddened by the sudden death of Kay Bernstein.”
“That’s how I’ll remember him fondly.”
The German Football League wrote on X: “We were shocked and deeply shocked to hear the news of Kay Bernstein’s death.” And the former referee Manuel Gräfe also commented: “What’s going on in 24?! President Kay Bernstein has now died completely unexpectedly at the age of only 43 (!) years.”
Bernstein was once the lead singer of the club in the Ostkurve and was also socially involved with Hertha. At the general meeting on June 26, 2022, he was surprisingly elected president against the favored CDU politician Frank Steffel and another competitor. He became the successor to Werner Gegenbauer, who had led the club for a long time.
“The news of Kay Bernstein’s death completely shocked me,” Steffel, who is president of Füchse Berlin, also wrote to I will remember him fondly.”