Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter after a soccer player died following an on-field collision with the opposing goalkeeper during a second-division match.
Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel died after suffering cardiac arrest following the collision, his club said. He was 30.
How the Collision Happened
De Miguel was chasing a long ball near midfield when FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, running from the opposite direction in an apparent attempt to clear it, struck him in the chest. Owono had rushed out of his area all the way to the halfway line. The incident happened in added time, and Owono was shown a straight red card.
De Miguel first dropped to his knees, clutching his torso for a few seconds, then fell onto his back with his arms falling to his sides. Owono was already walking off after the red card, but he turned back and joined the other players rushing to check on him.
De Miguel was taken to hospital, and the match, level at 2-2, was abandoned.
Police Investigation and Legal Outlook
Spain’s National Police confirmed that an investigation had been opened. Under Spanish law, any death from non-natural causes, accidents included, is subject to a judicial investigation.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui told the Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were unlikely, since the collision happened during play.
Local media carried no reports of de Miguel having a pre-existing health condition, and the precise medical cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Tenerife Mourns Its Forward
The club, based in Spain’s Canary Islands, said it was heartbroken. “There are no words of comfort,” its statement read. “There is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow. We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire Tenerife community.”
Tenerife’s largest shareholder, Rayco García, told reporters that de Miguel’s body would be taken to Navahermosa, in the province of Toledo, at his family’s request, and that teammates and club officials would attend a final farewell. Fans, he said, would gather at the team’s stadium to honour the player. “We will all join forces and get through this together,” García said.
Club president Felipe Miñambres said players and their families would probably need support to cope. “We will need professional help and the help of all of our fans,” he said. “They will be feeling the same way that we are feeling today.”
The club also took several practical steps:
- It asked for its league game at Granada to be postponed.
- It declared six days of mourning.
- It suspended activities for its first team, women’s team and youth sides.
A Career Built in the Lower Divisions
A Madrid native, de Miguel began his senior career with Leganés B in 2015 and went on to play for several lower-division Spanish clubs before joining Tenerife last year. Spanish media said he is survived by his wife and their daughter.
Fallout for the Goalkeeper
Owono’s Instagram account, which had almost 30,000 followers, was deactivated. Another player with the same surname, Michel Owono of sixth-division club Can Vidalet, spoke out against a wave of racist insults from people who mistook him for the Andorra goalkeeper.
Tributes From Across Football
Andorra, owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Piqué, offered its condolences, as did other clubs, the Spanish soccer federation and La Liga. “We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel, to all his colleagues and friends, and to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace,” the club said. Piqué wrote on X: “I am sorry with all my soul. Rest in peace, Jesús.”
Messages and gestures came from across the game:
- Real Madrid players held a minute of silence during training.
- Espanyol postponed the presentation of its new coach.
- Kylian Mbappé wrote: “So much sadness. There are no words.”
- Lionel Messi posted on Instagram: “There are no words. My condolences and lots of strength to all his family and friends.”
- Cristiano Ronaldo called it a tragedy: “No words. Sending strength to the family. May he rest in peace.”
- Manchester United and Liverpool shared condolences on social media.
The Spanish soccer federation postponed all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and UEFA said a moment of silence would be held at all of its matches this week.
Previous Fatal Collisions in Football
Life-threatening injuries from collisions in soccer are extremely rare, but there have been earlier cases:
| Year | Player | Club | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last year | Raúl Ramírez, 19 | Colindres (fifth division, Spain) | Suffered head injuries in a collision and had two cardiorespiratory arrests, one on the field and one in the ambulance; declared brain dead two days later |
| 2001 | Serhiy Perkhun | CSKA Moscow | Ukrainian goalkeeper died from head injuries sustained in a match collision |
| 1987 | José Antonio Gallardo | Malaga | Goalkeeper died in January, more than three weeks after colliding with Celta Vigo forward Baltazar in a second-division game |
