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Berlin's top World Cup official Juergen Kiessling committed suicide

Tuesday, 18 July 2006

Berlin's top World Cup official Juergen Kiessling committed suicide

Berlin's top World Cup official Juergen Kiessling has died four days after he shot himself in the head just hours after the football tournament finished and the verdict on his death is suicide.

Juergen Kiessling, 65, was rushed to hospital from his house in Reinickendorf, a suburb of Berlin, after a neighbour heard the gun go off.

The motive for his action is not clear, but reports said Juergen Kiessling had left two suicide notes.
Berlin hosted the World Cup final on Sunday, when Italy were victorious over France.

Juergen Kiessling was known as "Mister WM" (Mr World Cup) by colleagues in Berlin and the mayor of the city Klaus Wowereit said Mr Kiessling had worked tirelessly, and praised his "great and successful commitment to the World Cup".

The World Cup was widely seen as a great success for the host nation and it is a mystery as to why Juergen Kiessling killed himself.

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