Spanish police have opened 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 the possible sporting and criminal consequences for the goalkeeper.
What happened during Tenerife vs Andorra?
The incident occurred on Monday, November 2, during a Spanish Segunda División fixture between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The match had been postponed by 24 hours because of the risk of torrential rain, and the teams were level at 2-2 when the collision happened in the 96th minute.A long ball was played forward from the Tenerife half, with De Miguel chasing it towards the Andorra goal. Owono, the 25-year-old goalkeeper, came a considerable distance out of his penalty area to challenge for the ball near the halfway line. He jumped towards the striker with his right knee raised and struck De Miguel in the chest.The Tenerife forward immediately collapsed, leaving players from both teams calling for medical assistance. Owono received a straight red card from referee Manuel Ángel Pérez Hernández, while medical staff attended to De Miguel on the pitch. The striker was eventually taken away on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.According to reports, De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest during the incident, with medical personnel managing to restore his pulse in the ambulance. The match was subsequently abandoned after the referee consulted both teams’ captains and officials, who said they were not in a condition to continue playing.
Jesús de Miguel lies on the ground after colliding 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 recorded that the collision occurred while the ball was being contested. It also stated that Owono had been sent off for making contact with an opponent with his leg raised and using excessive force.
Jesús de Miguel dies after his condition deteriorates in hospital
Tenerife initially offered some hope after confirming that De Miguel had been admitted to hospital, describing his condition as stable despite the severity of his injuries. He remained unconscious and was placed in intensive care, but his neurological condition deteriorated during 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 suffering a serious injury during Monday’s match against FC Andorra. (Image credit: EuroFoot _X)
In its statement, Tenerife said: “Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true. 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…that today weep for this cruel outcome.“The family of Jesús de Miguel thanks each and every one of the expressions of support received, and likewise requests, from the heart, the utmost respect for their privacy in these terrible moments.”The striker’s death was confirmed after his teammates, coaching staff and club officials had spent the morning at the hospital awaiting updates. His body is due to be transported to mainland Spain for his funeral in Navahermosa, in the province of Toledo.
Why have Spanish police opened a homicide investigation ?
Spain’s National Police opened an investigation into De Miguel’s death on Tuesday, with the Homicide Group in Santa Cruz de Tenerife examining the circumstances surrounding the collision. The case is under judicial supervision, and prosecutors have also opened preliminary proceedings.The High Court of Justice 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 judicial death investigation.A statement from the court said: “Every death that does not have a natural cause — what is known as ‘judicial death,’ whether due to accident or other causes — entails the opening of a judicial investigation ex officio, as is the case here.”The opening of those proceedings does not establish that a crime has been committed or that Owono is criminally responsible for De Miguel’s death. The investigation is intended to establish what happened and whether there is evidence of responsibility beyond the sporting rules governing the incident.José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui, the chief prosecutor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, told the Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were unlikely because the collision occurred during a passage of play. He referred to longstanding Spanish Supreme Court doctrine, under which injuries sustained during sporting activity are generally not punishable unless there has been an assault outside the normal course of play, such as an intentional attack during a stoppage.Sánchez-Jáuregui said it was “very difficult” for a criminal case to proceed, but stressed that the referee’s report and the findings of the Sports Disciplinary Committee would first have to be considered. Investigators will examine the available footage and gather evidence, including statements from Owono and medical personnel involved in treating De Miguel.
What punishment could Jesús Owono face?
The investigation has two separate tracks: the judicial process examining possible criminal responsibility and the sporting disciplinary proceedings arising from the challenge.Under the Spanish football disciplinary framework, a serious incident involving violent conduct and excessive force can lead to a substantial suspension. Reports by AS described the relevant 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 assess the referee’s report alongside video footage of the collision before deciding whether further punishment is warranted. The referee’s description of the incident is particularly relevant because he recorded that the ball was still in dispute when Owono made contact with De Miguel.The legal question is different. Sánchez-Jáuregui said the authorities would need to establish whether the challenge amounted to dangerous or very dangerous play and, crucially, whether Owono intended to cause harm. He noted that Spanish legal precedent generally protects actions arising from the normal conduct of a sporting contest, while leaving room for criminal proceedings where an intentional assault occurs outside that contextHowever, criminal liability is not necessarily limited to cases involving deliberate intent. Article 142 of the Spanish Penal Code covers negligent homicide, distinguishing between gross and less serious negligence. If investigators establish gross negligence, the offence carries a potential prison sentence of one to four years, while less serious negligence can attract a fine of three to 18 months. Whether either provision could apply would depend on the circumstances of the collision and whether Owono’s actions went beyond the risks ordinarily associated with competitive football. No finding of criminal responsibility has been made, and the prosecutor has indicated that criminal proceedings are unlikely. The police investigation remains open.
Owono reportedly wants to apologise as Tenerife prepares tribute
Owono has been described by people close to FC Andorra as deeply affected by what happened. The goalkeeper, who represents Equatorial Guinea internationally, reportedly returned to Barcelona with his teammates after the match and subsequently closed his social media accounts following a wave of abusive messages and chants from Tenerife supporters.Footage from the stadium showed some fans confronting him as he left the pitch, with supporters shouting “murderer”. According to journalist Iván Álvarez, speaking on COPE radio before De Miguel’s death was announced, Owono intended to contact the striker’s family and apologise privately.Álvarez said: “Some of the people who were at the stadium and some messages I exchanged with players told me it’s the hardest thing they’ve ever experienced on a football pitch.”He added that Owono was “very upset” and that “no one would ever think of someone wanting to harm a fellow professional in that way”.Álvarez also relayed Andorra’s position on the incident: “Andorra emphasises that there was no ill intent at any point, acknowledging that it was a mistimed outburst, an action that went terribly wrong and, I would say, excessive and violent, but they insist there was no intention to cause 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 have gathered outside the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, leaving flowers, candles and messages at Gate 8 in memory of the striker. Tenerife has invited supporters and residents of the island to attend a tribute at the stadium on Saturday at 6pm. The Tenerife Island Council has also declared an official day of mourning, with the island’s flag to fly at half-mast.UEFA has called for moments of silence at matches during the week, while clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid have issued tributes. De Miguel’s death has also prompted the Spanish football authorities to postpone scheduled midweek Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches.
