Photo essay: The people’s president

In January, Hertha BSC suffered the tragic loss of Kay Bernstein, its beloved club president. It was a shock that carried across the city, and the tributes came from all corners of the football community.

Having risen from the Ostkurve as a capo of the Hertha fan group Harlekins all the way to the role of club president, Kay was the perfect demonstration of fan representation in football, introducing a more open culture and solidifying the fan voice at the heart of the club.

In other clubs across Europe, particularly the largest and richest, a fan rising to the position of president would be unthinkable. But Kay made it happen. For many fans, he helped reintroduce their love for football. There can be no weightier legacy than that.

In the first game after his passing, as the Ostkurve remained silent for the full game out of respect, Hertha BSC hosted Fortuna Düsseldorf at the Olympiastadion. Tobi Schmidt’s images captured the hard-fought 2-2 draw, as well as the mood of the day.

Tobias Schmidt is a photographer and videographer, working as media for Hertha BSC. Instagram: @shumittodesu.