Goalkeeper Jesus Owono in ‘profound distress and anguish’ after death of Jesus de Miguel | Football

Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono ‘is experiencing profound distress and anguish’ after the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel.

De Miguel suffered head and chest injuries following a collision with Owono, who was sent off for his challenge near the halfway line, during the closing stages of the Spanish second-division match on Monday.

Owono had sprinted from his goal to clear a long ball when his knee collided with De Miguel’s chest.

De Miguel rolled on the floor immediately after impact but was then motionless on his back as several players urgently signalled for medical help.

The 30-year-old’s condition was first described as ‘stable, given the seriousness of the condition’ on Monday night but Tenerife issued a second update in the early hours of Tuesday morning which said that his ‘medical condition has deteriorated neurologically.’

Later on Tuesday morning, Tenerife announced that De Miguel had died in hospital.

Owono initially went to leave the pitch after his red card but then turned back after the severity of De Miguel’s situation became clear.

The 25-year-old, who was playing for La Liga side Alaves last year and has made 47 appearances for Equatorial Guinea’s national team, deleted his Instagram account after receiving abuse.

According to Spanish radio station COPE, some supporters at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium shouted ‘murderer’ at Owono, while the goalkeeper is said to have been crying and praying in the dressing room after the match was abandoned.

Meanwhile, Venancio Tomas Ndong Micha, the president of the Equatorial Guinean Football Federation, has issued his ‘full solidarity and support’ to Owono.

‘It is with deep shock and immense sorrow that I have received the news of the tragic passing of your player, Jesus de Miguel. On behalf of the Equatorial Guinean Football Federation, and on my own behalf, I wish to express our most sincere and heartfelt condolences for this irreparable loss,’ Ndong Micha said in a statement.

‘Football is a family that, in moments like this, unites in grief. We wish to extend our deepest solidarity to his family, his teammates, the coaching staff, and all the blanquiazul (blue-and-white) fans, who are currently enduring a time of indescribable sadness.

‘Furthermore, I feel it is necessary to convey our full solidarity and support at this time to our player, Jesus Lazaro Owono.

‘We know that, as an involuntary participant in this fatal incident during the match, he is experiencing this situation with profound distress and anguish.

‘The Equatorial Guinean Football Federation offers him our full personal and professional support, fully aware of the severity of this event—something no one in our sport ever wishes to witness.

‘We share in your mourning and remain entirely at your disposal. Please accept our deepest respect and support during these most difficult times.’

On Tuesday, police in Spain opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter following De Miguel’s death.

Judicial authorities in the Canary Islands said it is a routine procedure as any death deemed non-natural under Spanish law automatically triggers a judicial inquiry.

However, the chief prosecutor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui, has said it would be ‘very difficult’ for a criminal process to be opened as De Miguel’s collision with Owono occurred during the match.

Speaking to Spanish news agency EFE, Sanchez-Jauregui explained that long-standing Spanish Supreme Court precedent distinguishes injuries sustained during a match from deliberate assaults which are committed when play is halted.

Sanchez-Jauregui added that the referee’s report and the decision of the Sports Disciplinary Committee, which will determine whether Owono intended to cause harm with his challenge on De Miguel, will be considered before any legal action.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced that all of its football competitions have been suspended until November 6.

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