Jesus Owono faces anguish as Tenerife striker dies after clash
At the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium on Monday, Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel lay motionless after a clash with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono. The collision, which occurred in the closing stages of the Spanish second‑division game, left the 30‑year‑old striker with head and chest injuries and sent the goalkeeper off.
The incident was reported by Diario de Avisos via the Associated Press. Owono sprinted from his goal to clear a long ball, his knee striking De Miguel’s chest, and was shown a red card for the challenge near the halfway line.
De Miguel rolled onto the pitch but soon lay motionless on his back as teammates urgently called for medical assistance. Initial reports on Monday night described his condition as stable given the seriousness, but a Tenerife update in the early hours of Tuesday said his neurological state had deteriorated. Later on Tuesday morning the club confirmed that De Miguel had died in hospital.
Owono initially left the field after receiving his dismissal but returned when the severity of De Miguel’s situation became clear. The 25‑year‑old goalkeeper, who played for Alaves last season and has 47 caps for Equatorial Guinea, deleted his Instagram account after receiving abuse. According to Spanish radio station COPE, some supporters at the stadium shouted ‘murderer’ at Owono, and he was reported to have been crying and praying in the dressing room after the match was abandoned.
Reactions and legal proceedings
Venancio Tomas Ndong Micha, president of the Equatorial Guinean Football Federation, issued a statement of full solidarity and support to Owono, expressing deep sorrow for the loss of De Miguel. He described football as a family united in grief and pledged personal and professional assistance to the goalkeeper.
Tenerife mourns as Jesus de Miguel collapses in fatal clash
Fans gathered outside the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium in Tenerife to pay tribute to De Miguel. The club and supporters mourned the loss in a sombre atmosphere.
On Tuesday, Spanish police opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter, noting that any non‑natural death triggers a judicial inquiry under Spanish law. Judicial authorities said the procedure is routine in such cases.
Chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez‑Jauregui said it would be very difficult for a criminal process to proceed because the collision occurred during play, citing Supreme Court precedent that distinguishes match injuries from deliberate assaults. He added that the referee’s report and the Sports Disciplinary Committee’s decision will be considered before any legal action.
Spanish club Tenerife faces tragedy after player collapses on pitch
Later that afternoon the Royal Spanish Football Federation announced that all its competitions are suspended until 6 November. The decision follows the tragic events surrounding De Miguel’s death.