Jesús de Miguel death: ‘Deeply distraught’ Jesús Owono reportedly seeks apology as criminal trial unlikely

Jesús Owono is reportedly hoping to apologize privately to Jesús de Miguel’s family as Spanish prosecutors indicate a criminal trial is unlikely following the fatal collision. Spanish police have launched an investigation after Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel died following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a second division match. The 30-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch and died in hospital the following morning, prompting a judicial inquiry and questions about possible sporting and criminal consequences for the goalkeeper.

What happened during the Tenerife vs Andorra match?

The incident occurred on Monday, November 2, during a Spanish Segunda División match between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The game was postponed for 24 hours due to the risk of torrential rain and the teams were level at 2-2 when the 96th-minute collision occurred.A long ball was played forward from the Tenerife half and De Miguel chased it towards the Andorra goal. Owono, the 25-year-old goalkeeper, got a good distance out of his penalty area to attempt the ball near the half-way line. He lunged at the attacker with his right knee up and punched De Miguel in the chest.The Tenerife forward immediately collapsed and players from both teams called for medical help. Owono received a straight red card from referee Manuel Ángel Pérez Hernández while medical staff attended to De Miguel on the pitch. The attacker was eventually taken away on a stretcher and transferred by ambulance to Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.According to reports, De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest during the incident, with medical personnel able to restore his pulse in the ambulance. The match was subsequently abandoned after the referee consulted the captains and officials of both teams, who stated that they were not fit to continue play.

Jesús de Miguel lies on the ground after a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a soccer match in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo)

The referee’s report later noted that the collision occurred in a scramble for the ball. It also said Owono was sent off for making contact with an opponent with a raised leg and using excessive force.

Jesús de Miguel dies after his condition worsens in hospital

Tenerife initially offered some hope after confirming De Miguel had been admitted to hospital and described his condition as stable despite the seriousness of his injury. He remained unconscious and was placed in intensive care, but his neurological condition worsened in the early hours of Tuesday, November 3.The club confirmed his death at approximately 8am local time. De Miguel was 30.

CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel Alameda has died at the age of 30 after sustaining a serious injury during Monday’s match against FC Andorra. (Image credit: EuroFoot _X)

In a statement, Tenerife said: “Overwhelmed with pain, with a lump in my throat and unable to believe that this is true. There are no words of comfort, there is absolutely nothing that can ease this feeling of overflowing sadness.”“We stand with his devastated family, with his loved ones … who are crying today at this cruel result.”“The family of Jesús de Miguel is grateful for every outpouring of support they have received and also asks from the bottom of their hearts for the utmost respect for their privacy at this terrible time.”The forward’s death was confirmed after his teammates, coaches and club officials spent the morning in hospital awaiting updates. His body is to be flown to mainland Spain for his burial in Navahermosa, Toledo province.

Why did the Spanish police open a murder investigation?

Spain’s national police opened an investigation into De Miguel’s death on Tuesday, with Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s homicide squad looking into the circumstances of the collision. The case is under judicial supervision, prosecutors have also started preliminary proceedings.The Supreme Court of the Canary Islands explained that an investigation is automatically opened when a person dies from a cause that is not considered natural, including an accident. The procedure is known in Spain as a forensic death investigation.The court’s statement said: “Every death not due to a natural cause – what is known as a ‘judicial death’, whether due to accident or other causes – requires an ex officio inquest, as in this case.”The initiation of these proceedings does not prove that a crime was committed or that Owono is criminally responsible for De Miguel’s death. The aim of the investigation is to find out what happened and whether there is evidence of responsibility beyond the sporting rules that govern the incident.José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui, Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s chief prosecutor, told Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were unlikely because the collision occurred during a game. He referred to the long-standing doctrine of the Spanish Supreme Court that injuries sustained during a sporting activity are generally not criminal unless the attack occurred outside the normal course of play, such as an intentional attack during a stoppage of play.Sánchez-Jáuregui said it was “very difficult” to proceed with criminal proceedings, but stressed that the referee’s report and the findings of the Sports Disciplinary Committee would first have to be considered. Investigators will review available footage and gather evidence, including statements from Owon and the medical staff involved in De Miguel’s treatment.

What punishment could Jesús Owono face?

The investigation has two separate tracks: a trial examining possible criminal liability and a sports disciplinary proceeding arising from the assault.According to the Spanish football disciplinary framework, a serious incident involving violent behavior and excessive force can lead to a substantial suspension. News from AS described the appropriate sanction for violent conduct towards an opponent causing serious injury or harm as a suspension of between four and 12 matches.The Sports Disciplinary Committee will consider the referee’s report along with video footage of the collision before deciding whether further punishment is warranted. The referee’s account of the incident is particularly relevant as he recorded that the ball was still in contention when Owono made contact with De Miguel.The legal question is different. Sánchez-Jáuregui said authorities would have to determine whether the challenge constituted dangerous or very dangerous play and, more importantly, whether Owono intended to cause harm. He noted that Spanish legal precedent generally protects conduct arising from the normal conduct of a sporting competition, leaving room for criminal proceedings if an intentional attack occurs outside of that context.However, criminal liability is not necessarily limited to cases of deliberate intent. Article 142 of the Spanish Penal Code deals with manslaughter by negligence, distinguishing between gross and minor negligence. If investigators prove gross negligence, the offense is punishable by one to four years in prison, while less serious negligence can result in a fine of three to 18 months. Whether either provision could apply would depend on the circumstances of the collision and whether Owono’s conduct exceeded the risks normally associated with competitive football. No criminal liability has been established and the public prosecutor has indicated that criminal proceedings are unlikely. The police investigation remains open.

Owono reportedly wants to apologize as Tenerife prepares tribute

Owono was described by people close to FC Andorra as deeply affected by what happened. The goalkeeper, who represents Equatorial Guinea at international level, reportedly returned to Barcelona with his team-mates after the match and subsequently closed his social media accounts after a wave of abusive messages and chants from Tenerife supporters.Footage from the stadium shows some fans confronting him as he leaves the pitch, with fans shouting “murderer”. According to journalist Iván Álvarez, who spoke on COPE radio before De Miguel’s death was announced, Owono intended to contact the attacker’s family and apologize privately.Álvarez said: “Some of the people who were in the stadium and some of the messages I exchanged with the players told me that this is the hardest thing they have ever experienced on a football pitch.”He added that Owono was “very upset” and that “nobody would ever think of someone wanting to hurt a fellow professional in this way”.Álvarez also relayed Andorra’s position on the incident: “Andorra emphasizes that at no point was there any ill intent and they acknowledge that it was a poorly timed explosion, an action that went very wrong and I would say that it was excessive and violent, but they insist that there was no intent to harm.”He said Owono wanted to contact De Miguel’s relatives “when the time is right”, adding that the goalkeeper preferred to speak to them privately before making any public statement.Meanwhile, supporters gathered outside the Heliodor Rodríguez López Stadium and left flowers, candles and messages in memory of the striker at Gate 8. Tenerife has invited supporters and residents of the island to attend at the stadium on Saturday at 18:00. The Council of the island of Tenerife also declared an official day of mourning, with the island’s flag flying at half-mast.UEFA called for silence at matches during the week, while clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid paid tribute. De Miguel’s death also prompted Spanish football authorities to postpone the scheduled midweek Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches.