FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has broken his silence to express his profound grief, stating that he is struggling to come to terms with the tragic death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel following an accidental on-field collision during a Spanish second-division match. The harrowing incident has sent shockwaves through Spanish and international football, plunging the sporting community into mourning and prompting widespread fixture postponements and tributes.
The 25-year-old Equatorial Guinea international issued an emotional statement through his club on Wednesday, just two days after the players collided during a hard-fought league encounter between Andorra and Tenerife. De Miguel, a 30-year-old forward, sustained severe injuries in the challenge. He was rushed directly to a hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and placed in the intensive care unit, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Tuesday.
"These are the hardest days of my life. I struggle to find the words and it is very difficult for me to process anything that has happened," Owono said in his emotional public statement. "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."
The fatal collision took place when Owono raced out of his penalty area and far into the midfield to clear a high, aerial ball. The momentum of the play brought him into accidental contact with De Miguel. The Tenerife forward suffered critical injuries upon impact, leading to immediate medical intervention on the pitch before he was transported to the hospital. News of his passing triggered
an immediate and widespread outpouring of condolences from across the Spanish football landscape and the global sports community.
In the wake of the tragedy, Spanish police have opened a formal investigation under judicial supervision to examine the precise circumstances surrounding the incident, which is standard procedure in cases resulting in sudden accidental fatalities during public events.
Owono was visibly shaken by the events and chose not to attend FC Andorra’s voluntary training session on Wednesday. During the gathering, his teammates and club staff observed a solemn minute of silence in memory of De Miguel. In response to the heavy emotional toll and the hostile reactions directed at the young goalkeeper online, FC Andorra announced that it was actively providing professional psychological support to all players and staff members within its ranks who have been affected by the tragedy.
The psychological burden on Owono has been exacerbated by a wave of online hostility. Following the player’s death, some social media users directed vicious and abusive messages at the Andorra goalkeeper, with certain accounts falsely and maliciously accusing him of being a murderer. The severe backlash forced Owono to deactivate his official Instagram account on Tuesday to shield himself from the relentless cyberbullying.
The confusion and online toxicity also spilled over to affect unrelated individuals. Another goalkeeper, Michel Owono of the Spanish club Can Vidalet, reported that he had been subjected to targeted racist abuse and hostile messages from social media users who mistakenly identified him as the FC Andorra player involved in the fatal collision.
Amid the hostile online commentary, teammates and football federations rallied strongly around Jesus Owono to defend his character and clarify that the collision was a completely unintended sporting accident. FC Andorra defender Lautaro Spatz took to social media to publicly defend his teammate, emphasizing that Owono was deeply distressed by De Miguel’s death and that the challenge was never meant to cause harm.
"Those of us who know him know the kind of person he is, how much he is suffering at this moment and that he would never intentionally hurt anyone," Spatz wrote in his social media post. "In football, unfortunate incidents can happen, but no one could imagine that one of them might end with such tragic consequences." Spatz also extended his heartfelt condolences to De Miguel’s grieving family and to everyone associated with Tenerife.
The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation also stepped forward to offer its unwavering support to Owono, who has represented his country with distinction across 47 international appearances. Federation president Venancio Tomas Micha noted that the goalkeeper was experiencing profound sorrow and distress as the involuntary protagonist of an unimaginable tragedy.
"We know that, as the involuntary protagonist of this tragic incident in the game, he is living through this situation with deep sorrow and distress," Tomas Micha wrote, pledging comprehensive personal and professional assistance from the federation to help the player navigate the coming weeks.
Spanish football postpones fixtures
The profound tragedy has prompted widespread tributes, mourning periods, and fixture postponements across the breadth of Spanish football. League authorities and clubs moved swiftly to reschedule matches, prioritizing collective grief and respect over athletic competition.
Tenerife’s upcoming second-division fixture against Granada, which had been scheduled for Saturday, November 7, has been officially postponed. Similarly, FC Andorra’s home match against Mallorca has been called off. Granada confirmed the postponement decision in an official club statement, while Mallorca emphasized that respect, empathy, and sensitivity must take absolute priority during such a period of profound mourning.
Reflecting the gravity of the situation, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) also announced the postponement of all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches scheduled for the week as a solemn mark of respect for De Miguel.
Tenerife announced a formal six-day period of mourning across the organization. The club has organized a public tribute to the late striker at their home stadium on Saturday, providing an opportunity for supporters, teammates, and staff to gather and pay their final respects. Furthermore, Tenerife’s first-team squad, board members, and club staff are scheduled to attend De Miguel’s funeral in Navahermosa, located in the province of Toledo, where the late striker maintained deep family roots.
The ripples of the tragedy have extended far beyond the borders of Spain. Tributes poured in from international competitions, highlighted by a solemn minute of silence observed before Tuesday’s high-profile UEFA Champions League matches. European football governing bodies confirmed that similar commemorative moments of silence are planned for all remaining continental fixtures throughout the week, ensuring that the memory of Jesus de Miguel is honored across the international stage.