Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel has died at 30, a day after a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono in a Spanish second division match on November 2. Owono, 25, has responded in a statement released by his club on Wednesday.
Owono, an Equatorial Guinea international, had raced into midfield to clear an aerial ball. “These are the hardest days of my life. I struggle to find the words and it is very difficult for me to process anything that has happened,” he said.
Spanish police sources have told AFP that an investigation into the incident has been opened under judicial supervision. Owono acknowledged the road ahead in his statement: “I know there will be many issues to address, and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect.”
Andorra players observed a minute’s silence in tribute on November 4 before a voluntary training session, which Owono did not attend. Andorra defender Lautaro Spatz backed his team-mate publicly on Instagram, writing that the goalkeeper “would never intentionally hurt anyone”.
Venancio Tomas Micha, president of the Equatorial Guinea federation, wrote to the 25-year-old in a letter of condolence, offering “all our human and professional backing”. He called Owono the “involuntary protagonist of this tragic incident in the game”.
Tenerife’s trip to Granada on November 7 and Andorra’s home game with Mallorca, both scheduled for the weekend, have been postponed. The Spanish football federation has also postponed all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches this week as a mark of respect.
Tenerife are observing a six-day mourning period and plan a tribute to De Miguel at their stadium on Saturday that supporters can attend. The first team, board and staff will attend his funeral in Navahermosa, in the province of Toledo, where he has family roots.
Tributes to the Tenerife striker have extended beyond Spain. A minute’s silence was observed before the Champions League matches on November 3 in honour of De Miguel, and UEFA plans the same for the remainder of this week’s fixtures it organises.