Witnesses are currently being questioned, said a police spokesman. In addition, an expert also examines the gate and the child’s injuries in order to reconstruct the course of the accident. Based on the results, the public prosecutor’s office must then decide whether to initiate an investigation. The spokesman does not expect the first findings until later in the week.

Numerous games canceled

According to the Bavarian Football Association, it is still unclear whether the child was on the club premises as a player or spectator. All junior district level games in the Erlangen/Pegnitzgrund football district planned for Sunday were canceled as a result of the accident.

“We are all deeply shocked and stunned. We are at a loss for words,” writes the association. They want to let football rest. “The football family’s thoughts are with all those who have to understand what simply cannot be understood at this time.”

The club wants to comment during the day

According to the association, the club wants to comment later in the day. On Sunday morning, numerous visibly affected people came to the club premises with flowers, including children and young people, as a dpa photographer reported. The flowers should be placed on the site.

Accidents involving gates are generally rare. In Germany, there was a case in Hamburg in 2013 in which a seven-year-old was also killed by a falling gate. In 2010, a twelve-year-old died in Nottuln, Münsterland. In 2021, an eleven-year-old was seriously injured. There have been other similar accidents in previous years and abroad.