Berlin - Berlin's top World Cup official
shot himself in the head hours after the tournament ended on
Sunday night but survived his apparent suicide attempt, a police spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Emergency services found the man, who was the Berlin local
government's representative on the World Cup organising
committee, at his house in the suburbs of Berlin early on
Monday.
The Berliner Zeitung daily reported that the man, a
65-year-old widower called Juergen Kiessling, had left two
suicide notes, one for his daughter and one for his family.
Citing a police source, the newspaper said Kiessling had
"political" problems. German media said his condition remained
life-threatening.
Berlin hosted the World Cup final on Sunday when more than a
million fans spilled on to the city's streets as Italy beat
France 5-3 on penalties, concluding the four-week event.
The tournament was a huge success for Germany and its
capital city, which hosted millions of fans in its "Fan Mile"
viewing area near the Brandenburg Gate without incident.
Reuters
