The fifteen-year-old, who was fatally injured at a youth football tournament at Pentecost, died in hospital on Wednesday, according to a statement from police and prosecutors. To clarify the cause of death, an autopsy should be made in the next few days, it said. A spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office said there were no indications as to what triggered the outbreak of violence immediately after the final whistle of the match between the teams from Berlin and Metz, France.

Anna-Sophia Lang

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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The accused 16-year-old player of the French team, who is in custody, told the magistrate that he could not really remember having struck. It was all a big mess. The investigating authorities are currently questioning witnesses who were present at the international youth tournament on Sunday. According to the public prosecutor's office, the team of the alleged perpetrator traveled back to France, but signaled that they would come to Frankfurt for interrogations. Police are asking witnesses to come forward and provide pictures or videos.

Appeal to parents and players

FC Metz writes on its homepage that the accused is a player in the club's "performance programme". He denied intentionally inflicting physical damage on the opponent, who was declared brain dead on Monday. The causes of the adolescent's condition could "not be determined today." All players and parents present are at the disposal of the German authorities. The club was "deeply shocked by this tragedy" and expressed its "sincere support" to the injured player, his family and loved ones.

His club, JFC Berlin, asked for understanding for not wanting to comment out of respect for the family and because of the ongoing proceedings. "Our thoughts and condolences are with the affected family." The board of SV Viktoria Preußen 07, where the "Germany Cup" took place, said that the club was "deeply shocked and dismayed". "At this point, we appeal to parents and players alike, on and off the pitch, to always let reason prevail. In the end, it's just a game, just a hobby! We stand for fairness and sportsmanship and clearly distance ourselves from any violence in football."

The organizers of the "Germany Cup", the tournament organizer SFG tournaments, demanded that the violence on football pitches must end. They are in contact with the affected club, the football association and the police and will exhaust all possibilities to make their contribution to the investigation.

In view of a "continuous increase in violence in amateur football", the Volt parliamentary group in Frankfurt's Römer announced its intention to talk to clubs and associations "in order to discuss together what options the city and politicians have to counter these intolerable conditions more strongly". The chairman of the Sportkreis Frankfurt, Roland Frischkorn, announced that he wanted to invite "promptly" to a round table to work through the situation and develop "proposals". Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) said he expressly welcomed the initiative and promised "every support". "Football must remain a peaceful sport."