Goalkeeper speaks out after fatal collision, disables Insta due to online abuse

FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has described the death of Tenerife striker Jesus De Miguel as the hardest time of his life, making his first public statement since the fatal collision on the pitch that rocked Spanish football.

Owono, 25, was involved in a collision with De Miguel during Monday’s Spanish second division match between FC Andorra and Tenerife. The Tenerife striker suffered a cardiac arrest after the incident and was taken to hospital where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. He died on Tuesday morning at the age of 30.

In a statement released by FC Andorra on Wednesday, Owono spoke of his difficulty in coming to terms with the tragedy and said his thoughts remained with the late footballer and his family.

“These are the hardest days of my life. I’m trying to find words and it’s very hard for me to process what happened,” Owono said.

“I feel immense pain over the loss of Jesus. My thoughts are with him, his family and all who loved him. I know there will be many questions to deal with and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect. But right now, honestly, I can’t think of anything but Jesus and the pain we’re going through. Rest in peace, Jesus.”

Owono’s statement came a day after he deactivated his Instagram account amid a wave of online abuse following the incident. Some users reportedly posted abusive comments, including calling the goalkeeper a “murderer”.

**BREAKING: CD Tenerife confirm striker Jess de Miguel has died at 30.** The forward collapsed at stoppage time in Monday’s 2-2 draw with FC Andorra after a heavy collision with goalkeeper Jess Owono near the halfway line. Owono was ejected and the match was ended. De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest, was resuscitated in an ambulance, but his condition worsened overnight. He died at 8 a.m. local time on Tuesday at Nuestra Seora de Candelaria Hospital. Club statement: “Rotos de dolor No hay palabras de consuelo.” The family has asked for privacy. Rest in peace, Jess. #RIPJesusDeMiguel #CDTenerife Aarushi Sharma (@aarushisharmaX) November 3, 2026

The Equatorial Guinea international, who has played 47 games for his country, was sent off after the collision. The incident happened during the break when the two sides were level at 2-2.

NEVER INTENTIONALLY HURT ANYONE

While Owono has largely stayed away from public stages since the tragedy, his FC Andorra teammate Lautaro Spatz has come to his defense and described the goalkeeper as a friend deeply affected by what happened.

Spatz, who paid tribute to De Miguel in a post on social media, also spoke of the emotional toll the incident took on Owono, urging people to understand that the collision was never intentional.

“I also want to say a few words about my teammate, goalkeeper and friend who is deeply affected by what happened. Those of us who know him know what he is like, how much he is suffering at this moment and that he would never intentionally hurt anyone,” Spatz wrote.

“Unfortunate incidents can happen in football, but nobody could have imagined that one of them could end up with such tragic consequences.”

The Argentina defender also expressed his condolences to De Miguel’s family, friends and the community of Tenerife, saying the tragedy has devastated everyone at FC Andorra.

“Today football is irrelevant. All that remains is to share the pain, express our deepest respect and send our support to the family and all those suffering this terrible loss,” he added.

The incident also prompted an investigation by the Spanish National Police into the circumstances of De Miguel’s death. Authorities are investigating the case as a possible accidental killing, although such an investigation is standard procedure after deaths classified as unnatural in Spain.

FC Andorra also offered psychological support to club members affected by the tragedy. The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation expressed its support for Owon and acknowledged the deep grief he was experiencing following the incident.

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