By Sohaib Shams
Police in Spain have opened a routine investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter following the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, 30, who suffered a cardiac arrest after a collision during a Segunda Division match against FC Andorra on Monday.
Collision and match abandonment
De Miguel collapsed on the pitch after a clash with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who rushed out of his area to clear the ball but struck the forward in the chest. The incident occurred in stoppage time, prompting the referee to abandon the match and show Owono a red card.
Hospitalization and death
De Miguel received treatment on the field before being taken to hospital. Tenerife initially reported his condition as stable but later said his neurological state had worsened in the early hours of Tuesday. The club confirmed his death at around 8 a.m. local time.
Club and league reactions
Tenerife issued a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss of Jesus de Miguel Alameda. FC Andorra deactivated Owono's Instagram account and offered condolences to De Miguel's family, teammates, and the Tenerife club. Several Spanish teams, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, paid tribute, while the world players' union Fifpro also expressed deep sadness.
UEFA and federation tributes
La Liga president Javier Tebas said the league would support the club and De Miguel's family, and raised the possibility of postponing Tenerife's next match. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin called the death heartbreaking and announced a moment of silence before all UEFA matches this week. The Spanish Football Federation postponed Tuesday's Copa del Rey and Copa del Reina fixtures.
Investigation routine
Spain's National Police said prosecutors would be involved, while authorities in the Canary Islands described the inquiry as a standard procedure. Under Spanish law, any non-natural death automatically triggers a judicial investigation.
