Goalkeeper involved in tragic crash with Tenerife forward Jesus De Miguel shares heartfelt message
FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has shared a heartfelt message after a tragic accident on the field involving Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.
The sad event happened during a Spanish second-division game on Monday, November 2. Jesus de Miguel sadly passed away on November 3 due to serious head and chest injuries, and he later suffered a cardiac arrest. Owono received a red card for the challenge, and the match was stopped.
Tenerife expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We are heartbroken and struggling to believe this is real. No words can ease this pain. We stand with Jesus’s family, friends, and everyone at Tenerife who mourns this terrible loss.”
Many in the football world have paid their respects, including a minute’s silence before Barcelona’s Champions League game against Aston Villa on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Owono spoke out, calling these days “the hardest of my life.” He said, “I can’t find the right words. It’s very hard to accept what happened. My heart is heavy thinking about Jesus, his family, and all who loved him. I know there will be many things to deal with, and I will face them with respect. Right now, all I can think about is Jesus and the pain we feel. Rest in peace, Jesus.”
Owono’s teammate Lautaro Spatz came to his defense, saying Owono “would never hurt anyone on purpose.” Spatz wrote, “I want to say a few words about my teammate and friend, who is very shaken by what happened. Those who know him understand how much he is hurting and know he never wanted to harm anyone. Football is a game where accidents happen, but no one expected something this tragic.”
The chief prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui, said criminal charges are “very unlikely,” though an investigation into involuntary manslaughter is standard in cases like this.
FC Andorra’s next game against RCD Mallorca has been postponed, and the Spanish Footballers’ Association has asked to pause all football matches in Spain this weekend. A memorial service will be held at Tenerife’s stadium on Saturday, November 7.