Jesus Owono breaks silence on hardest days after Jesus De Miguel death

FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono broke his silence on Wednesday following the tragic death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, stating that he is enduring the hardest days of his life after an on-field collision that left the 30-year-old striker in cardiac arrest. De Miguel passed away on Tuesday morning after the two players came together at midfield during a Spanish second division match on Monday.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through European football, prompting police investigations, online abuse directed at players, and widespread tributes across the continent. While Spanish authorities investigate the incident, the football community continues to grapple with the sudden loss of a player who joined Tenerife in summer 2025 and leaves behind a wife and a 1-year-old daughter.

What are Jesus Owono and his club saying about the tragedy?

FC Andorra released a personal statement on Wednesday on behalf of Owono, addressing the profound fallout from the incident that occurred seven minutes into stoppage time when Tenerife and Andorra were drawing 2-2 at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez. Owono ran towards the centre circle to clear a long ball, colliding heavily with De Miguel in a challenge that resulted in a straight red card for the goalkeeper and the immediate suspension of the match.

These are the hardest days of my life. I struggle to find the words, and it is very hard for me to process anything that has happened. I feel immense pain over the loss of Jesus. I think of him, of his family, and of all the people who loved him. I know there will be many issues to address, and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect. But right now, honestly, I cannot think about anything other than Jesus and the pain we are going through. Rest in peace, Jesus.

Jesus Owono, via Al Jazeera

Owono did not attend FC Andorra's voluntary training session on Wednesday, where teammates held a minute's silence before taking the pitch. Andorra centre-back Lautaro Spatz took to social media on Tuesday evening to defend his teammate, writing that Owono was deeply affected by what had happened, that those who know him know the kind of person he is, and that he would never intentionally hurt anyone. Spatz added that in football, unfortunate incidents can happen, but no one could imagine that one of them might end with such tragic consequences. The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation also issued a statement from president Venancio Tomas Ndong Micha on Tuesday offering full human and professional backing to Owono, noting that as the involuntary protagonist of the tragic incident, he is living through the situation with deep sorrow and distress. The emotional toll extended beyond Andorra when Can Vidalet goalkeeper Michel Owono reported receiving racist abuse online from social media users confusing him with the Andorra player.

• Jesus Owono deactivated his Instagram account after receiving abusive comments, including users calling him a murderer.
• FC Andorra offered psychological support to anyone at the club needing assistance following the tragedy.
• Tenerife declared six official days of mourning with all club activities suspended.
• Matches scheduled for the weekend, featuring Tenerife against Granada at Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium on Saturday, November 7, and Andorra against Mallorca, have been postponed.
• The Spanish football federation postponed all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches this week as a mark of respect following De Miguel's death.
• Tenerife fans laid flowers and lit candles at a makeshift shrine outside Gate 9, representing De Miguel's playing number, at their home stadium.

What legal and medical scrutiny surrounds the incident?

Spanish national police sources told the AFP news agency that an investigation into what happened has been opened under judicial supervision, which is a standard legal procedure under Spanish law whenever a non-natural death occurs. Investigators are tasked with determining whether Owono's challenge went beyond the normal course of play, though a chief prosecutor has already told local media that criminal charges are unlikely. Meanwhile, emergency medical treatment provided on the pitch has fallen under intense public and professional scrutiny.

De Miguel was treated by team medical staff at his side 20 seconds after collapsing from the mid-air collision, and emergency workers reached him with a stretcher in less than a minute. However, the exact timeline of care during the five minutes he remained prone on the pitch before being placed in an ambulance remains unclear. Elvira Gonzalez, president of Spain's Association of Nurses, Emergency Medics and Caregivers, told The Associated Press that her organization is seeking more information to ensure emergency procedures followed international standards of correct practice. Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Tuesday, Tenerife's largest shareholder Rayco Garcia acknowledged that there is much to clarify regarding the medical response, noting that the club's medical service did not order the ambulance to enter the field during the evacuation. Spanish soccer federation regulations mandate that home teams provide at least one doctor on site and an ambulance equipped with life support and a defibrillator.

How has the wider football world reacted?

Tributes poured in from across Europe as clubs and players honored De Miguel's memory ahead of UEFA Champions League fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday. Players observed a minute's silence before every European match, organized by European football's governing body UEFA, and high-profile figures expressed their grief publicly. Barcelona forward Raphinha, who scored twice in a 3-0 win against Aston Villa at the Camp Nou, told CBS Sports that he struggled to focus on the match. After seeing the news, of course I didn't have good feelings. He's a fellow player and it could have happened to anyone, it could have happened to me, Raphinha said. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also addressed the tragedy in his press conference, calling the incident absolutely heartbreaking on behalf of everyone at his club.

Back in Tenerife, supporters gathered at the stadium to mourn the striker. De Miguel's parents flew to the Canary Islands following the tragedy, and his wife and 1-year-old daughter were present at the stadium on Monday. Tenerife announced that the club's players, staff, and officials will travel to the central province of Toledo to attend De Miguel's funeral, which will take place in Navahermosa, where he has family roots, and which Rayco Garcia stated is tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Additionally, Tenerife will open the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez on Saturday evening to allow supporters to bid a final farewell.

The convergence of a police inquiry, medical protocol questions, and widespread mourning leaves football facing profound questions about safety and emergency response. Readers and observers should watch for the results of the police investigation and autopsy findings, which Rayco Garcia indicated will guide future steps, as well as any official findings from emergency medical associations regarding on-field treatment standards.