Spanish soccer player Jesús de Miguel dies after on-field collision

Jesús de Miguel, a 30-year-old forward for CD Tenerife, died after an on-field collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Segunda División match at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium.

The incident

The match between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra was tied 2-2 in the seventh minute of added time when the incident occurred. Owono came out toward the center circle to clear a long ball, and his knee struck De Miguel in the chest during a challenge for the ball. De Miguel collapsed on the field and was taken by ambulance to the Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, where he died hours later.

Investigation and statements

The preliminary autopsy report concluded that De Miguel died as a result of "un traumatismo torácico de carácter accidental". The report was sent to magistrate Eva Esther Juárez Fernández, who is leading the investigation. Spanish police opened a routine investigation into a possible case of reckless homicide.

The match referee recorded in the match report that the visiting goalkeeper used "una fuerza excesiva" during the "disputa de un balón". The chief prosecutor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui, said it would be difficult for the episode to lead to a criminal process if the contact occurred within the framework of a normal play.

Owono, who is 25 years old, was sent off and the match was suspended. He published a statement on his club's social media saying: "Estos están siendo los días más difíciles de mi vida". He also wrote: "Me cuesta encontrar las palabras y me resulta muy difícil asimilar nada de lo que ha pasado. Siento un dolor enorme por la pérdida de Jesús. Pienso en él, en su familia y en todas las personas que lo querían".

Ana Maye, who has been a trusted person for Owono since he was 14 and is General Coordinator of the Equatorial Guinea national team, told Mundo Deportivo that Owono has considered leaving football. She said his family is being insulted, including his younger brother, who is being called "asesino" at his club in the Basque Country.

Tributes

European matches observed a minute of silence for De Miguel. CD Tenerife declared six days of official mourning and postponed its weekend match against Granada. FC Andorra's match against Mallorca was also postponed. De Miguel's funeral was to be held in Navahermosa, Toledo.

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Sources

• univision.com: Hermanito de Jesús Owono es llamado “asesino” tras muerte de Jesús de Miguel: el portero “está muy afectado” | Univision Famosos | Univision
• clarin.com: Qué reveló el informe preliminar de la autopsia a Jesús de Miguel, el futbolista que murió en España
• bbc.com: "Están siendo los días más difíciles de mi vida": la desconsolada carta del portero Owono tras el encontronazo que causó la muerte al jugador Jesús de Miguel - BBC News Mundo

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.