Spanish police have opened an investigation into the death of Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel after a collision during a second-division match left the 30-year-old with cardiac arrest.
The incident occurred during Monday’s meeting between Tenerife and Andorra, with the match abandoned after the forward was taken to hospital.
De Miguel was challenging for a long ball near the halfway line during added time when he collided with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, who had rushed out of his area.
The National Police confirmed on Tuesday that proceedings had been opened over possible involuntary manslaughter, with prosecutors also set to become involved.
Police open investigation following fatal collision
De Miguel was struck in the chest during the collision and subsequently suffered cardiac arrest.
Tenerife initially confirmed that medical staff had managed to restore his pulse in the ambulance on the way to hospital. However, the club later announced that his neurological condition had worsened before confirming his death at 8am on Tuesday.
Owono was shown a straight red card following the incident, while the match was abandoned with the score level at 2-2.
The goalkeeper had initially begun leaving the pitch after his dismissal but turned back to join players from both teams as they rushed to check on De Miguel.
The 30-year-old joined Tenerife last year, having previously represented a number of lower-division clubs in Spain following his professional debut with Leganés B in 2015.
Football world pays tribute to Jesús de Miguel
Tenerife released a statement expressing its devastation following the forward’s death.
The club said: “There are no words of comfort. There is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow. We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire Tenerife community.”
Andorra also paid tribute, extending its condolences to De Miguel’s family, teammates and the club.
Tributes were shared across Spanish football, with Real Madrid players observing a minute’s silence during training. Manchester United and Liverpool were also among the clubs to express their condolences.
The Spanish football federation postponed two Copa del Rey fixtures and one Copa de la Reina match scheduled for Tuesday.
Fatal injuries following collisions in football remain extremely rare, although the tragedy follows the death of 19-year-old goalkeeper Raúl Ramírez in Spain last year after a collision during a fifth-division match.
The police investigation into De Miguel’s death remains ongoing.
