By Ben McFadyean.
The on-field collision between Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono and Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel on Saturday, which led to the death of the outfield player, continues to affect the world of football.
The players, staff and fans of Andorra FC remain deeply affected by the death of De Miguel. During this incredibly difficult time, their goalkeeper, Jesús Owono, who was involved in the incident that ultimately cost the Tenerife forward his life in the match in the Segunda Division, the second tier in Spain, chose to share a personal message via the club’s social media channels to express what he is going through after the on-field incident.
“These are the most difficult days of my life. I struggle to find the words, and it’s hard for me to process what happened. I feel an immense amount of pain over the loss of Jesús. My thoughts are with him, his family, and everyone who loved him. I know there will be many matters to address, and I will face whatever comes next with the utmost respect. But right now, honestly, I cannot think of anything other than Jesús and the pain we are all experiencing. Rest in peace, Jesús.”
As the grief over the death of Jesús de Miguel continues to weigh heavily on CD Tenerife and the wider Spanish and wider football community, several prominent voices have shared a common sentiment: that the suffering of the deceased forward’s family is immeasurable, but that this should also not lead to casting Jesús Owono as the person to blame.
World Cup winner with Argentina, and former Real Madrid Centre-forward, Jorge Valdano, writing in his weekly column for national newspaper *El País*, captured the collective feeling right now. Valdano noted that while football is equipped to handle joy, sadness, or defeat, it is not prepared for death: “Let us not look for someone to blame. In the face of such profound pain, one victim is already too many,” wrote the former Tenerife coach, who emphasised that some blows of fate are simply inexplicable—and urged against turning a tragedy into a public trial.
Former Spain international goalkeeper and Real Madrid player Santiago Cañizares expressed a similar sentiment during his appearance on the Spanish television programme *Horizonte*. The former goalkeeper analysed the emotional impact such a situation can have on any footballer, pointing out that the surviving player involved in the incident will also have to live forever with the devastating consequences—consequences that occurred within a contact sport like football.
PSG coach Luis Enrique also set aside time to share a deeply humane message. The Spanish coach called for support for Tenerife and the family of the deceased player, while also remembering Owono. “It is a very distressing situation for everyone. These kinds of unexpected events are deeply sad and clearly affect us all—not just the family of the player who passed away, but also the player who committed the act; we must think about him and his family, and what they are suffering and going through. And, of course, even more so for the family of the person who died.”
The 30-year-old De Miguel had quickly established himself as a club favourite, scoring 11 goals in his first season as Tenerife were promoted to the second tier of Spanish football. Now, the Canary Islands club’s Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium has become a shrine to the player, with hundreds of people gathering throughout the past few days to lay flowers, light candles and pay their respects.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 04: A man stands next to flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial in tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel outside Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez on November 04, 2026 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel died on Tuesday at the age of 30, of cardiac arrest following a collision during a match against Andorra. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
Poli Suarez, the Canary Islands’ minister for education and sport, speaking to Spanish football magazine Marca, said Tenerife was “in a state of complete mourning”. Suarez also stressed that the thoughts of everyone were with De Miguel’s wife, daughter and wider family.
There were also tributes from the British football community, including from Arsenal FC, whose squad paused training to hold a minute’s silence in memory of the striker in front of a stadium screen displaying the image of the player who died. In Germany, in the Champions League game between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, the players wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence to remember the deceased player.
Meanwhile, the football authorities and judiciary are investigating the incident and the surrounding matters. Spanish police have begun a routine procedure that is necessary following any death from unnatural causes.
The national Cup matches in the Copa del Rey, and the cup in the women’s game, the Copa de la Reina, were postponed.
Jesus Owono, meanwhile, has been given a leave of absence from active duty with his club whilst the investigations proceed.
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