Tenerife Striker Jesus de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision

Q: What consequences await the goalkeeper involved in this fatal on-pitch collision?

The goalkeeper, Jesús Owono, faces an immediate sporting sanction and the possibility of a legal investigation, but no criminal responsibility has been established at this stage. On the football side, Owono was sent off with a straight red card, which normally brings at least a suspension to be decided by the Spanish football authorities. Any additional disciplinary penalty would depend on the referee’s report and the competition’s review of the challenge. The more serious question is whether prosecutors or a judge open a criminal case. Spanish media have reported that authorities could examine the collision under Article 142 of the Spanish Penal Code, which covers causing death through negligence. If investigators were to find gross negligence that directly caused Jesús de Miguel’s death, the penalty can be one to four years in prison. If the conduct were judged less serious negligence, the sanction could instead be a financial penalty. That outcome is far from automatic. In Spain, a fatal result in a sporting event does not by itself make a player criminally liable. Investigators would need to decide whether Owono’s challenge went beyond the ordinary risks accepted in professional football. Video evidence, the referee’s report, expert analysis of the play, and medical findings on the cause of death would all be central. So for now, the red card is certain; any longer ban or criminal case depends on what the disciplinary and judicial reviews find.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Nov 3

Jesus de Miguel died at 07:00 GMT on Tuesday after his condition worsened overnight, a day after the Tenerife forward suffered head and chest injuries in a Spanish second-division match.
The 30-year-old was hurt in stoppage time of a 2-2 game against FC Andorra when goalkeeper Jesus Owono's knee appeared to strike him; the striker lay motionless, Owono was sent off and the match was abandoned.
Spanish media said De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance and was resuscitated en route to hospital, after Tenerife had initially described him as stable but serious.
The Spanish football federation postponed Tuesday's Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina fixtures after the death, as condolences poured in from Andorra, La Liga president Javier Tebas, Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe.
De Miguel joined Tenerife on a three-year deal in 2025 and had scored 11 goals in 29 appearances; he previously netted 16 times for Castellon in their promotion season.