This election is a Bundesliga premiere!
With Kay Bernstein (41), an ex-ultra was elected president of a Bundesliga club for the first time in the history of the league at the extraordinary Hertha general meeting.
He received 1,670 out of 3,040 votes, making him the successor to ex-Hertha boss Werner Gegenbauer (72).
Who is this amber?
The new Hertha President was born in Marienberg (Ore Mountains) in 1980 and lived in Dresden until 1988 before moving to Berlin-Marzahn with his family.
As a student, he failed twice in the 8th grade, but still managed to graduate from secondary school and completed an apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic. Today, Bernstein has a daughter and enjoys driving a Porsche.
As a fan, he once founded the ultra formation Harlekins, was the lead singer (capo) of the hardcore fans in the Olympic Stadium for years and was banned from the stadium three times. Once he was taken away by the police.
A stadium ban had a curious background: In autumn 2005 Hertha had distributed 40,000 rattles from sponsor Vattenfall in the game against Wolfsburg. Bernstein is said to have urged fans to “throw the shit away”. The rattles flew into the interior, injuring a flag waver who filed a complaint against unknown persons. The security forces spoke out in favor of a stadium ban for Bernstein.
Photo: Ottmar Winter
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/kay-bernstein-organierte-2010-ein-public-viewing-in-der-waldbuehne-nachdem-die-ostkuhne-wegen-aussc- 6ae5d5d4b3254721b6f99cc3bb9bea9a-80517468/Bild/3.bild.jpg”/> Kay Bernstein organized a public viewing at the Waldbühne in 2010 after the east curve was closed due to riots after a Bundesliga gamePhoto: Ottmar Winter
He is now the owner of a communications agency (balance sheet 2020: 1,494,775.58 euros, net income for the year 42,969.11 euros) and was the biggest critic of the balance of power at Hertha BSC until the election.
He explained to BILD: “As a real Herthaner, I can ensure that hope germinates again in the rifts of turmoil. I can unite Hertha BSC internally and stabilize it externally.”
And further: “I stand for a real new beginning with real content and a real election program, not for the mere backs of the old guard and systems that brought Hertha to the brink of the abyss. And ultimately I’m going into this election without ego or greed for a post – it’s all about being able to help my heart association. This is exactly what the general meeting, as the highest body of Hertha BSC, decides on.”
Now he gets that chance…
The extraordinary Hertha general meeting can be read here in the live ticker!
Live-Ticker
New break
The agenda item “Miscellaneous” is closed, but the counting of the votes is ongoing. Chairman of the meeting Dr. Lentfer therefore ordered a five-minute break.
Congratulations to Bobic
Sports director Fredi Bobic (50) on the new president: “I congratulated Kay Bernstein. We will now meet and get to know each other very soon.”
various
There are currently debates on various topics. In the background the counting for the election of the presidium assessors is running.
Sidka yes
Among the members still present is ex-player Wolfgang Sidka (68), who played a total of 228 games for Hertha between 1972 and 1980. Most recently, Sidka was promoted to the 3rd division with VfB Oldenburg.
Hall empties
In the meantime, significantly fewer members are present in the CityCube, and the hall is emptying. Four more candidates introduce themselves and their application as presidium assessors.
performance continues
Nine candidates have already presented themselves, including Tim Kauermann, son of the KGaA supervisory board boss Dr. Karl Kauerman. Another prominent applicant: Lutz Kirchhof, CEO of the Hertha soccer department.
Drescher elected Vice President
Fabian Drescher was elected as the only candidate with 1966 votes. 2216 votes were cast, the required absolute majority was 1109 votes. Drescher on the microphone: “Thank you for your trust. I accept the choice.”
Photo: City-Press GmbH” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/fabian-drescher-was-elected-to-new-hertha-vice-president-00bc448269894496bce6fbaada4620a0-80517224/Bild/1.bild.jpg” />
Fabian Drescher was elected the new Hertha Vice PresidentPhoto: City-Press GmbH
Photo: City-Press GmbH
Assessor candidates introduce themselves
While the ballot papers for the election of the Vice-President are being counted, the 24 candidates who want to be members of the Executive Committee introduce themselves. Four items are up for grabs.
Windhorst is here
Investor Lars Windhorst is also among the members present. Drescher greeted him from the podium.
Drescher wants to be Vice
Now Fabian Drescher is running for vice-president, also needs 51 percent of the votes cast. Ingmar Pering withdraws his candidacy for Vice after Steffel’s electoral defeat. Drescher promises: “We want to be cosmopolitan, future-oriented and deeply rooted in the city.”
The election result
The exact figures: Kay Bernstein received 1670 votes, 1509 was the required majority. Frank Steffel got 1280 votes, Marvin Brumme 26. The managing directors Fredi Bobic, Ingo Schiller and Thomas Herrich congratulated Bernstein.
Bernstein accepts the election
As soon as the election results were announced, Bernstein’s supporters jumped up, cheered like a Hertha goal and shouted “HaHoHe”. Bernstein goes to the microphone visibly emotionally and has to catch his breath first. In his first speech as the new Hertha President, he said: “I spoke earlier about the old lady being in intensive care. Now we can heal them holistically from the inside and make them healthy again. That is only possible together.”
Kay Bernstein is the new Hertha President
The result is there: Kay Bernstein is the new President. He received over 1600 votes, of the 3040 voting members present.
Kit Announcement
While the votes are being counted, Hertha announces the new jersey on the video walls. The kit for the upcoming season will be revealed on July 2nd.
Now is chosen
Members now have the opportunity to put their ballot papers in the polls. It remains exciting!
Sorry to the Ultras
When asked, Steffel apologized to the Ultras. In a Bundestag speech in 2017, he criticized ultras in general. Now he says: “I’m sorry that I didn’t differentiate there.” The debate then ended.
Steffel resigned as Fox President!
While he first spoke in his speech about resigning from his office as Foxes President in the event of an election victory, Steffel now said that he had resigned from office in a responsible manner in the morning. Means: Steffel is no longer Foxes President!
Steffel defends himself against allegations of collusion
Steffel responds to accusations of cliquey: “Conversations between people who are elected are absolutely necessary. That has nothing to do with backroom deals and cliques.” Steffel continues: “Don’t assume that I would do anything against the club. The club is all of us together.”
Steffel wishes for cohesion
In the middle of the question and answer session, Steffel appealed to the cohesion in the club: “It doesn’t matter how this turns out. There can be no winners and no losers, only Herthan from tomorrow. There are three candidates, none of whom have been in the presidency so far. More fresh start is not possible. Don’t try to coup or disgust everyone who worked here until yesterday.”
Photo: City-Press GmbH
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/frank-steffel-was-am-rednerpult-emotional-30c4cc84c3ce45fe8c5bf4d6b201c5b8-80515916/Bild/1.bild.jpg”/> Frank Steffel became emotional at the lectern Photo: City-Press GmbH
It’s getting restless
During the questions to Steffel, there are more and more boos and whistles, especially towards questioners. As the election approaches, the atmosphere in the hall heats up.
