Police homicide division opens judicial proceedings
He was struck in the chest when challenging for ball
Spanish football was in shock on Tuesday after the Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel died after a collision with the Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a match in the second division. The homicide division of the national police has opened judicial proceedings into a possible involuntary manslaughter, a routine procedure after any death not by natural causes. The chief public prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife told the state news agency EFE that it was “very difficult” for a case to come to court.
Tenerife announced that De Miguel had died at 8am on Tuesday after he had been taken into intensive care on Monday afternoon. He did not regain consciousness after a cardiorespiratory arrest.
The collision occurred in added time at the end of Andorra’s visit to Tenerife, a game put back 24 hours because of the risk of torrential rain. With the score 2-2, in the 96th minute, a long ball was played away from the Tenerife area and up the pitch. De Miguel chased it into space and Owono came a long way out of his goal, jumping forward, with his right knee up, and crashing into the attacking player inside the centre circle.
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Owono was sent off, walking straight to the touchline. De Miguel was left unconscious, with players from both sides appealing for medical assistance. The match was abandoned by the referee, Manuel Ángel Pérez Hernández, having run into the 108th minute.
Medics restored De Miguel’s pulse in the ambulance and transferred him to the Hospital Universitario de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz. Tenerife said he was able to breathe unassisted and was stable but that he remained unconscious and in a critical condition. At 5am the club announced De Miguel’s condition had worsened neurologically.
“CD Tenerife announce the tragic passing of Jesús de Miguel Alameda on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 8:00am,” said a statement released at 9.31am. The statement described the club as “broken by pain, with a lump in the throat and unable to believe that this is true”, and accompanying the forward’s “devastated family, loved ones and everyone associated with Tenerife who mourns this cruel end … there are no words of consolation”.
View image in fullscreenTributes to Jesús de Miguel at Tenerife’s stadium. Photograph: Borja Suárez/ReutersThe former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué, who is Andorra’s majority shareholder and attended the game, wrote on social media: “I am so deeply sorry, to my soul. Rest in peace, Jesús.” The club’s president, Ferran Vilaseca, told reporters: “This has had a huge emotional impact on our players, coaching staff and everyone at FC Andorra. Our sincerest condolence arriving on the Spanish mainland after midnight, still unaware of the outcome.”
The chief public prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui, told EFE it was “very difficult” for a legal case to be taken up given that the impact happened in the course of the game. A formal legal complaint could still be brought. Sentences for involuntary homicide range from three months to four years of imprisonment. There is no precedent of a footballer facing legal proceedings as a result of a challenge in the course of a game.
According to federation protocols Owono could face a 12-game ban, with the disciplinary committee due to decide.
View image in fullscreenArsenal players hold a minute’s silence in memory of Jesús de Miguel. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/ReutersThe report from the referee said: “In minute 90+6, player no 25 Ferrer Owono, Jesus Lazaro, was sent off for the following reason: for impacting sharply upon an opponent with his leg high and excessive force in dispute of the ball. The player was treated on the field of play, which he then abandoned on a stretcher. At the close of this report, no medical certificate had been presented.”
Tenerife have asked to postpone their next two games, against Granada on Saturday and Badajoz in the cup the following week. Andorra have requested that their meeting with Mallorca at the weekend be postponed. The Spanish football federation announced the postponement of all games due to be held on Tuesday in the Copa del Rey and the Copa de la Reina.
Clubs across Europe, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, paid tribute to De Miguel. “Our thoughts and support are with his family, friends and loved ones during these difficult times,” Barcelona said. Real Madrid said they sent “condolences and affection to his family, his teammates, his club, and all his loved ones”.
De Miguel had played most of his career in Spain’s third tier, at Leganés B, Inter Madrid, Fuenlabrada, Navalcarnero, Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellón. He was Castellón’s top scorer when they were promoted to the second division in 2024 and joined Tenerife in 2025.