Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel, 30, dies after on-pitch collision in second division
Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel died in hospital on 3 November after a cardiac arrest following a collision during a second division match. Police in the Canary Islands have opened an involuntary manslaughter inquiry.
Canary Islands police open manslaughter inquiry after Tenerife striker's death
Police in the Canary Islands have opened an involuntary manslaughter investigation following the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, liverpoolecho.co.uk reports. De Miguel, 30, died in hospital on Tuesday 3 November after suffering a cardiac arrest during a second division match against Andorra FC.
The incident occurred when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his area and collided with De Miguel in what officials deemed a reckless challenge. Owono was shown a red card, and the match, level at 2-2 in stoppage time, was subsequently abandoned.
Under Spanish law, any death considered to have occurred unnaturally automatically triggers a judicial inquiry. Investigators in the Canary Islands opened the case in line with that requirement.
Owono, 25, an international for Equatorial Guinea, reportedly broke down upon learning of De Miguel's death. The goalkeeper has also deleted his Instagram account, having allegedly been subjected to a flood of abusive messages.
His club, Andorra FC, issued a statement: "With broken hearts, we want to send our most sincere condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel, to all his teammates, friends, and to CD Tenerife. Rest in peace."
CD Tenerife announced the news on social media on Tuesday morning. "Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing, this Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at 8:00 a.m., of Jesús de Miguel Alameda," the club posted.
"There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness. We stand alongside his devastated family, alongside his loved ones, alongside all of tinerfenismo that today weeps for this cruel outcome."
UEFA confirmed that all matches during the week — including those in the men's Champions League — will be preceded by a minute's silence. President Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement: "We are heartbroken by the death of Jesús de Miguel Alameda. We have searched for words and found only silence. In that silence, our hearts and thoughts are with his family, his team-mates, everyone at Tenerife, and all those who mourn this tragic loss."
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed Tuesday's Copa del Rey and Copa del Reina fixtures as a mark of respect. In its statement, the RFEF said: "We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones, as well as to Club Deportivo Tenerife and all its fans, whom we accompany in these moments of great sorrow."
Tenerife's club statement added that De Miguel's family "thanks each and every one of the expressions of support received" and "requests, from the heart, the utmost respect for their privacy in these terrible moments."
Fans gathered outside the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife to lay flowers in tribute to the striker.
Source: The Sun