Investigation into involuntary manslaughter of Jesus Owono after clash in Tenerife

Equatoguinean goalkeeper Jesus Owono has been formally placed under investigation for involuntary manslaughter after unintentionally causing the death of striker Jesus De Miguel during the match between Tenerife and Andorra, an episode described as unprecedented in Spanish sports jurisprudence.

The Equatoguinean had to close his social media profiles due to a slew of racist insults. He will now also have to face criminal proceedings after the trauma of having, albeit unintentionally, caused the death of a colleague.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS IN SPAIN

The investigative procedure is launched ex officio whenever a case of death from non‑natural causes arises, but in Spain there are no precedents of initiating a procedure against a top‑level athlete for a clash in a contact sport like football. The judge in Tenerife will have to assess a possible sporting disproportionality in the goalkeeper’s action, taking into account not only recklessness but also any possible intent to harm the opponent. A considerably wider margin remains for a potential civil compensation claim.

Tenerife striker dies after collision with Andorra goalkeeper

In Italy, an ex‑officio investigation would also have been opened in the event of a death from non‑natural causes, but so far no footballer has been convicted, as the on‑field circumstances introduce specific mitigating factors in cases of physical injury.

Former Fiorentina captain Giancarlo Antognoni commented on the incident, recalling his own serious clash in 1981 with Genoa goalkeeper Silvano Martina.

Mourning Jesus De Miguel and legal storm around Andorra goalkeeper

"The intervention against me was dangerous, it hit me on the head but luckily it didn’t affect me badly. Dying in a game clash is madness, I tell goalkeepers: you must calm down. Owono was in midfield, far away from his own area. He could have grabbed him by the shirt, pushed him to the ground, or let him go. He should have avoided such a dangerous clash, certain kamikaze exits are too dangerous. Owono is doubly guilty because he ventured up to midfield. Jesus, no"