Tenerife forward dies after knee strike in Spain's second tier
Jesus de Miguel, 30, suffered cardiac arrest in an ambulance following a collision with an Andorra goalkeeper on Tuesday.
By Renata Mehta ·
The sudden death of Jesus de Miguel, a 30-year-old forward for CD Tenerife, has paused professional football across Spain. The player died on Tuesday morning after sustaining injuries from an on-field collision during a Spanish second division match. His passing triggers a six-day mourning period for his club and a suspension of all domestic league play until Friday, November 6.
De Miguel was challenged by Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during the game. Owono’s knee struck the Tenerife forward in the chest. Medical staff treated de Miguel on the pitch before moving him to a hospital. He suffered a cardiac arrest while being transported in an ambulance. The Royal Spanish Football Federation postponed all domestic matches on Tuesday as a sign of respect before extending the halt to Friday.
UEFA announced that a minute’s silence will be observed at all Champions League matches this week. The governing body stated that its hearts and thoughts were with de Miguel’s family, teammates, and the club. The Champions League anthem was not played during Tuesday night’s matches as a mark of respect. Barcelona and Aston Villa began the tributes on Tuesday night, also remembering victims of a recent train accident in Toledo.
Andorra goalkeeper Owono released a statement on Tuesday night expressing devastation over the incident. He said the accident would stay with him for the rest of his life. “I want everyone to know that I never intended to hurt anyone. It was a terrible accident, something I wish with all my heart I could take back,” Owono wrote on social media. He added that no words could express the pain, guilt, and heartbreak he feels right now.
Local police have opened an investigation into the collision. While some fans have called for involuntary manslaughter charges, authorities deem criminal proceedings unlikely. During the match, referee Manuel Angel Perez Hernandez showed Owono a red card. Videos from the stadium show Tenerife fans chanting “assassin” at the goalkeeper as de Miguel was carried to an ambulance. Owono walked toward the touchline immediately after the impact without looking back at the injured forward.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside gate 9 of Estadio Heliodoro to lay flowers, light candles, and pin up photographs of de Miguel. The Tenerife club will hold a tribute ceremony at its home ground on Saturday at 6 pm local time. The funeral will take place in the village of Navahermosa, Toledo, in central Spain. Players, staff, and officials from the club are expected to attend the service.
Former French defender Patrick Battiston recalled a similar incident from the 1982 World Cup semifinal. He was knocked unconscious by West German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher and slipped into a coma. Battiston told French outlet L’Equipe that the current tragedy shocked and moved him. “Especially to see his teammates and opponents take their heads in their hands. What happened is terrible,” he said. De Miguel’s final match remains the site of the collision that ended his life.
