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Potentially facing imprisonment, goalkeeper Jesus Owono is under scrutiny regarding his involvement in the fatal cardiac arrest of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.
Global football community members are grieving the loss of De Miguel, 30, who passed away Tuesday morning in a Santa Cruz medical facility from cardiac arrest after colliding with Andorra FC shot-stopper Owono during a La Liga 2 fixture.
As a reduced ten-man Andorra side trailed 2-0 late in the contest, Owono’s heavy contact with De Miguel resulted in match official Manuel Angel Perez Hernandez issuing a straight red card, prompting hostile chants of “assassin” from the home supporters as the keeper departed.
Fatal collision involving Jesus Owono results in the loss of Jesus de Miguel, as impending sanctions remain under consideration
Calls on digital platforms demand a permanent ban from football for Owono, while local press outlets in Tenerife indicate that Santa Cruz National Police’s Homicide Division has launched a formal inquiry into De Miguel’s demise.
Although Spanish football lacks previous case law for such a devastating occurrence, Section 142 of the nation’s Penal Code differentiates severe reckless homicide from less egregious negligent manslaughter.
Should severe negligence be established, Owono could serve up to four years in prison, whereas a minor negligence finding might only incur financial penalties.
According to the Spanish Football Federation’s regulatory guidelines, athletes guilty of violent behavior causing major harm face suspensions ranging from four to twelve fixtures.
The striker collapsed onto the pitch after sustaining impact to his chest from the knee of Owono, who had sprinted out of his penalty box to intercept the attack.
Teammates immediately signaled for emergency medical aid, and initial updates on Monday evening categorized his state as “stable, considering the severe nature of the injury”.
Early Tuesday, Tenerife issued a follow-up announcement revealing De Miguel suffered “neurological decline,” ultimately confirming his passing at the hospital later that morning.
Following the game’s abandonment, Owono was reportedly seen weeping and praying in the locker room, subsequently deactivating his Instagram handle due to an onslaught of hostile messages.
The head of the Equatorial Guinean Football Federation, Venancio Tomas Ndong Micha, expressed his “complete solidarity and backing” for the keeper, while extending deep sympathies over De Miguel’s passing.
Concurrently, Andorra central defender Lautaro Spatz defended his colleague in a public note, asserting that “he would never intentionally hurt anyone”.
