Disciplinary Action and Official Findings
The Spanish football federation has officially suspended Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono for 12 matches following a high-impact on-field collision that resulted in the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel. The incident occurred during a match on November 2, 2026, leading to a red card for Owono and the eventual suspension of the game, which was tied 2-2 at the time of the stoppage.
In a formal statement reported by Yahoo Sports, the federation’s disciplinary committee justified the maximum sanction by citing the referee’s report. The report stated that Owono was sent off for “violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play.” The committee emphasized that the tragic outcome of the incident, which saw de Miguel pass away, was a significant factor in determining the severity of the punishment. The disciplinary body noted that the assessment of the conduct under consideration must be based strictly on the facts expressly recorded by the match official, combining the dangerous nature of the play with its devastating final consequence.
The Incident and Medical Outcome
The collision took place at midfield as both players contested the ball during the fierce league encounter. Following the high-impact impact, de Miguel initially collapsed, remaining on the grass with his head and knees down before turning onto his back and becoming completely motionless. An opposing player immediately signaled for emergency assistance from the sideline. Owono, who was initially walking off the pitch following his mandatory dismissal, returned to the scene upon realizing the gravity of the situation to check on his opponent.
De Miguel was rapidly transported to a local hospital for urgent medical evaluation. While initially reported as stable despite the inherent severity of his condition, Tenerife confirmed that his neurological condition worsened later that day. The 30-year-old striker tragically died the following day. While Spanish police have opened an investigation into potential involuntary manslaughter—a standard procedure for non-natural deaths under Spanish law, according to the Associated Press—reports indicate that prosecutors currently view formal criminal proceedings as unlikely.
Impact on the Players and Club
Jesús Owono has not played a single minute since the incident occurred. In a public statement addressing the tragedy, the goalkeeper expressed that he is enduring the “hardest days of my life” and remains entirely focused on the profound grief shared by all involved families and teammates. Andorra manager Carles Manso noted that the club is providing the goalkeeper with the necessary personal space to process the horrific event, stating publicly that the team will wait patiently for Owono to independently decide if and when he is psychologically prepared to return to professional competition.