​Kay Bernstein, the president of the Hertha Berlin club, has died at the age of just 43, the Zweit-Bundesliga (Germany’s second division) group has announced.

Hertha BerlinPhoto: Gabor Krieg / imago sportfotodienst / Profimedia

Kay Bernstein died at the age of 43

According to the German daily newspaper Bild, Bernstein died in his sleep.

“Today, Tuesday, Hertha BSC received the terrible news of the unexpected death of chairman Kay Bernstein at the age of 43. The management of the club and employees are shocked and frightened by this news,” said the Hertha Berlin club.

A former co-founder of ultras group Harlekins Berlin ’98 in 1998, he was elected chairman of the Berlin Club in June 2022, receiving 1,670 votes out of 3,040 members at an extraordinary general meeting.

The club asked “to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult period,” News.ro said.