A 15-year-old footballer from German club JFC Berlin has tragically passed away after clashing with a rival player following a youth team match.
The Berlin-based club were playing against a performance programme team representing French outfit FC Metz in an invitational tournament in Frankfurt, Germany.
A report from NW News claims that an altercation broke out between players following the match on Sunday, with the victim suffering head and neck injuries and collapsing with a brain injury.
A police report of the incident reads: “After a fight on Sunday… a 15-year-old boy died in hospital of serious brain injuries. In order to clarify the circumstances of (the death of the young German), an autopsy will be performed in the coming days.”
The alleged perpetrator is currently being held by local authorities to establish the course of events surrounding the tragedy. The match was part of a 16-team invitational tournament held in Germany.
A statement from Metz on Wednesday read: "FC Metz has learned of the incident that took place in Frankfurt during a friendly private U17-U19 football tournament in which two FC Metz Performance Programme teams were participating.
"At the end of a match which had taken place in good spirits, an incomprehensible altercation took place and a young German player was hospitalised in serious condition, with his condition being able to be established today.
"The German justice in charge of the case is now investigating the incident to shed light on these tragic facts.
"A young player from FC Metz Performance Program is currently being held by the German authorities and denies having deliberately damaged the physical integrity of the injured young player.
"FC Metz Performance Program, as well as all the players and parents present, are obviously at the disposal of the German authorities to help advance the investigation.
"The entirety of FC Metz is deeply shocked by this tragedy and sends its most sincere support to the young player, his family and his loved ones."
Berlin FA president Bernd Schultz has said of the inicident: "Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all the relatives and team members of the player concerned in these difficult hours."
As detailed by AFP, the victim has been kept artificially alive in compliance with his family’s wishes to preserve and donate his organs.
