Kay Bernstein, one of the founders of Harlekins Berlin’98, Hertha Berlin’s ultra group, and now owner of a communication company, was elected this Sunday as the new president of the club, obtaining 1,670 of the 3,040 votes in the extraordinary general assembly and prevail over the other two candidates.
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It is the first time that a former member of an ultra soccer group has reached the president of a club, according to the Bild newspaper, which explains that Bernstein, 41, has been expelled from the stadium three times in the past.
“The club is in intensive care”
After being elected, Bernstein maintained that the club is in “intensive therapy” and that it can now be “cleaned up from within.” His victory as successor to Werner Gegenbauer, who stepped down after 14 years, was jubilantly celebrated by fans of the Berlin club.
Hertha Berlin managed to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga this past season in the playoff against Hamburg. Despite losing the first match 0-1 in Berlin, they came from behind in the second leg (0-2) to continue in the top flight of German football.