Back
Goalkeeper Jesus Owono has revealed he is experiencing "enormous pain" following his involvement in the fatal collision with Tenerife star Jesus de Miguel. Owono has issued a statement together with his club, Andorra, conveying that he is enduring the darkest period of his life. The goalkeeper collided with De Miguel near the halfway line during a fixture in Spain's second division. The Tenerife player was struck in the chest by Owono's knee and swiftly collapsed to the ground, with fellow players on the pitch desperately calling for assistance.
De Miguel was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment but tragically passed away on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. Spanish police have since launched a routine investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter.
The incident has plunged Spanish football into a state of grief following the 30-year-old's death. Owono faced considerable criticism for his challenge, prompting him to deactivate his Instagram account, but he has now broken his silence on the tragedy.
In an official statement, FC Andorra said: "FC Andorra continues to be deeply affected by the death of Jesús de Miguel. In these very difficult moments, our player Jesus Owono wishes to personally share a few words."
Owono said: "These are the most difficult days of my life. I am struggling to find the words and find it very difficult to assimilate anything that has happened.
"I feel an enormous pain for the loss of Jesus. I think of him, his family and everyone who loved him. I know there will be many issues to address; I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect.
"But right now, honestly, I cannot think of anything else except Jesus and the pain we are experiencing. Rest in peace, Jesus."
The club added: "FC Andorra asks for the utmost sensitivity and respect."
Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui stated that criminal proceedings against Owono are 'very unlikely'. The goalkeeper's teammate, Lautaro Spatz, has rallied to Owono's defence.
Spatz wrote: "There are moments when football loses its meaning. Moments that mark you forever and make you realise how fragile life can be. What we went through is something none of us will ever forget.
"A tragedy that has left us completely broken, speechless and with a sadness that is difficult to explain. First and foremost, I want to express my deepest condolences and all my love to Jesus' family, friends, and loved ones, as well as to the entire Tenerife community and the entire football family.
"Since yesterday, the entire FC Andorra squad has been shocked, devastated, and deeply affected by what has happened. It is a tragedy we never imagined we would experience on a football pitch.
"I also want to say a few words to my teammate, goalkeeper, and friend, who is deeply affected by what happened. Those of us who know him know the kind of person he is.
"We know how much he is suffering right now and that he would never intend to hurt anyone. In football, unforeseen events occur, but no one can imagine that one of them could end with such tragic consequences.
"Today, football doesn't matter. All that remains is to offer our condolences, show the utmost respect, and send all our strength to the family and to all those suffering this terrible loss. Rest in peace, Demi."
Any death 'not resulting from natural causes' automatically triggers a judicial investigation, meaning homicide detectives in Tenerife have launched an inquiry.
This will also examine the medical response to the incident, with questions to be answered regarding whether De Miguel was administered oxygen on the pitch, whether a defibrillator was deployed and concerns surrounding the care he received during his ambulance transfer.
Fixtures have been suspended across Spain until Friday, while Tenerife halted all club activities as they entered a six-day mourning period.
They will honour De Miguel at their home ground, the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium on November 7 at 6pm and have urged supporters wishing to bid farewell to the forward to come along.
The first team squad, coaching staff and club officials will attend De Miguel's funeral, which is set to take place in Navahermosa.
Back
Top
| Privacy Statement Terms of Service Contact |
Refresh
|
All the best breaking news stories from Apex Scores Lite. Optimised for feature phones and low end Android devices, Apex Scores Lite helps users with legacy devices and poor network connectivity access the latest football news and live scores. Particularly relevant for breaking football news in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.