BARCELONA — Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible reckless homicide after a footballer died following a collision on the field in a second division match.
Jesús de Miguel, Tenerife forward, died after suffering cardiac arrest due to a crash on the field, his club reported. He was 30 years old.
De Miguel was challenging for the ball near midfield during a match on Monday when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono hit him in the chest after sprinting during added time. Owono received a straight red card for the incident.
The country’s National Police reported on Tuesday that an investigation was opened. Under Spanish law, deaths from unnatural causes, including accidents, are subject to judicial investigation. Owono received a straight red card for the incident.
Under Spanish law, deaths from unnatural causes, including accidents, are subject to judicial investigation.
The chief prosecutor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui, told the Spanish news agency EFE that a criminal case was unlikely, noting that the crash occurred during the match.
De Miguel was taken to a hospital and the match, which was tied 2-2, was suspended after the episode.
Tenerife reported in a statement to Spanish media late on Monday that De Miguel had suffered cardiac arrest, but that his pulse was restored in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. However, he later noted that his condition had “worsened neurologically” and subsequently announced that De Miguel had died at 8 a.m.
“Broken with pain, with a lump in my throat and unable to believe this is true,” said the club based in Spain’s Canary Islands.
Tenerife’s largest shareholder, Rayco García, told journalists that De Miguel’s body would be transferred to Navahermosa, in the province of Toledo, at the request of his family. He indicated that De Miguel’s teammates and club officials would be present for a “final goodbye.”
Fans will gather Saturday at the team’s stadium to pay tribute to the player, García said.
“We will join forces to get through this together,” said García.
Club president Felipe Miñambres said the players and their families will likely need help coping with De Miguel’s death.
“We will need professional help, but also the help of all our followers, because they will have the same feeling that we have today,” said Miñambres.
The club asked for its Saturday league match in Granada to be postponed.
The action occurred when Owono left his area to midfield to contest a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.
De Miguel initially cowered on his knees, holding his torso for a few seconds, before falling backwards, his arms falling to his sides.
Owono was leaving the field after being shown the red card, but turned around and joined the other players who ran to check on De Miguel.
The goalkeeper’s Instagram account, which had almost 30,000 followers, had been deactivated on Tuesday.
Another player with the same surname, Michel Owono, who plays for Spanish sixth division club Can Vidalet, reported a wave of racist insults against him from people who thought he was Andorra’s goalkeeper.
De Miguel, born in Madrid, made his professional debut in 2015 with Leganés B and has since played for several lower division clubs in Spain. He joined Tenerife last year.
There were no reports in local media that De Miguel had a pre-existing health condition. The precise medical cause of death was not immediately released.
Spanish media reported that De Miguel is survived by his wife and daughter.
“There are no words of consolation; there is absolutely nothing that mitigates this feeling full of sadness. We are with his devastated family, with his loved ones, with all the people of Tenerife who cry today for this cruel outcome,” stated the club’s statement.
Andorra, which is owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Piqué, also offered its condolences, along with other clubs, the Spanish football federation and La Liga.
“We want to send our most sincere condolences to Jesús de Miguel’s family, all his teammates, friends and CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace,” Andorra said in a statement.
Andorra, which is owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Piqué, also expressed its condolences, as did other clubs, the Spanish football federation and La Liga.
“I’m sorry with all my soul. Rest in peace Jesus,” Piqué wrote in X.
Real Madrid players held a minute of silence for De Miguel during training, while Espanyol, another top-flight club, postponed the presentation of their new coach.
“A lot of sadness, there are no words,” wrote Kylian Mbappé, the Madrid forward, on Instagram.
On the same social network, the Argentine star also expressed himself on Instagram: “There are no words. My condolences and a lot of strength to all his family and friends.”
The English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool joined in the condolences on social networks.
The Spanish soccer federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina match that were due to be played later on Tuesday.
Life-threatening injuries from collisions in football are extremely rare.
Last year in Spain, a 19-year-old goalkeeper died from head injuries suffered during a collision in a fifth division match. Colindres goalkeeper Raúl Ramírez suffered two cardiorespiratory arrests, one on the field and then in the ambulance while being transferred to a hospital. He was declared brain dead two days later.
In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun was playing for CSKA Moscow when he died from head injuries received in a collision during a match.
José Antonio Gallardo, a Málaga goalkeeper, died in January 1987, more than three weeks after a collision with Celta Vigo striker Baltazar in a second division match.
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Azzoni reported from Madrid.
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