DFL New Year Reception in mourning

16 January 2024 – Following the news of the death of Hertha president Kay Bernstein, the DFL’s traditional New Year Reception in Frankfurt was held without the usual supporting programme. In a brief welcome address, Hans-Joachim Watzke, Speaker of the DFL Executive Committee and Chairman of the DFL Supervisory Board, paid tribute to the club president, who died unexpectedly at the age of just 43. This was followed by a minute’s silence.

The guests at the New Year Reception also observed another moment of silence in memory of the late Franz Beckenbauer.

Planned agenda items, such as a talk with DFL CEOs Marc Lenz and Steffen Merkel, were omitted from the gathering of the football family.