On Sunday, Hertha BSC will play their first competitive game since the unexpected death of Kay Bernstein. Around the game there will be numerous fan activities in memory of the president. Things got particularly emotional shortly before kick-off.
After the unexpected death of Hertha President Kay Bernstein, the first competitive game of the year for the Berliners is all about mourning. There are numerous mourning events around the second division game against Düsseldorf (kick-off at 1:30 p.m.).
Numerous Hertha fans had already made their way to the Olympic Stadium on Sunday for a funeral march in honor of Bernstein. In response to a request from rbb, the police spoke of 7,000 participants. The Hertha Ultras of “Harlequins 98” called for this. “This day will be a difficult one for all of us,” said the fan group. People gathered in the morning on Theodor-Heuss-Platz in Berlin-Westend. The police closed parts of the square to car traffic.
Emotional minute of silence in the quiet Olympic Stadium
Coach Pal Dardai’s team ran with mourning ribbons. “You can’t put into words how difficult the last few days have been. I can feel what’s going on here. It’s going to be an oppressive atmosphere and a difficult day,” Dardai explained to Sky before kick-off. Around 40,000 spectators came to the game against Düsseldorf to say goodbye to Bernstein. Among them were the governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), sports senator Iris Spranger (SPD) and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf.
How moving the atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium was became apparent shortly before kick-off. With no music played, the fans sang Hertha’s anthem “Just Go Home” while photos of the late president were shown on the video screen. The stadium announcer introduced the minute’s silence with a short speech and the words “Dear Kay, you will remain in our hearts forever” before bursting into tears with a shaky voice.
Both the East Curve and the guest block of Fortuna Düsseldorf commemorated Bernstein with banners and refrained from chanting and cheering in the initial phase. While the guests from the Rhineland began to support their team after five minutes, the East Curve remained silent. Only when striker Haris Tabakovic made it 1-0 for the Berliners in the 30th minute and held a black T-shirt with the inscription “We Herthaners – in deep sadness” towards the curve while celebrating, did they agree with a common “Ha ho he , Hertha BSC” before calm reigned again.
Photo gallery
Hertha mourns the late President Bernstein
Flower wreath on the main square, commemoration also in other stadiums
A large picture of the late president was also hung at the entrance to the east curve. Various memorial locations have been set up around the stadium where fans have the opportunity to leave flowers and sign condolence books. A wreath of flowers was also placed on Bernstein’s usual spot in the main stand and his typical blue and white training jacket – which he wore on almost every occasion – was hung over the backrest.
“It’s an emotional day that will go down in Hertha history, one hundred percent. Such emotionality was rare. Even with relegation… that was hard, but the news now was a shock. The game will definitely be remembered. It will be a defining game and we hope that we can say goodbye to him with a win,” said Hertha fan Jonas at one of the memorial sites before the game.
Fans also remembered the late Hertha president at games in other stadiums. There were banners with expressions of condolence at Karlsruher SC, 1860 Munich, SC Freiburg, Halle, Leipzig and Nuremberg, among others.
Hertha President Bernstein died unexpectedly on Tuesday night. He was 43 years old. The Frankfurt (Oder) public prosecutor’s office said it is assumed that the 43-year-old died of natural causes. Bernstein once co-founded the Ultra group.
Broadcast: rbb UM6, January 21, 2024, 6 p.m