Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter after a football player died following an on-field collision with the opposing team’s goalkeeper in a second-division match.
Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel died after he suffered cardiac arrest following the on-field collision. He was 30.
De Miguel was challenging for the ball near midfield in Monday’s match when he was struck in the chest by Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who had come running from the opposite direction in an apparent attempt to make a clearance.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow
Owono was shown a straight red card for the incident, which happened in added time.
The country’s National Police said on Tuesday that an investigation had been opened. Under Spanish law, deaths from non-natural causes, including accidents, are subject to judicial investigation.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were unlikely, noting that the collision occurred during play.
De Miguel was taken to a hospital and the match, level at 2-2, was abandoned after the incident.
The goalkeeper Owono’s Instagram account, which had nearly 30,000 followers, had been deactivated on Tuesday.
In a sad fallout, another player with the same last name — Michel Owono, who plays for sixth-division Spanish club Can Vidalet — denounced a wave of racist insults against him by people thinking he was the Andorra goalkeeper.
Jesús de Miguel tragically died after an on-field collision. Credit: Tenerife Be the first to know:
Tenerife, located on Spain’s Canary Islands, said it was “heartbroken”.
The club’s largest shareholder Rayco Garcia told reporters that De Miguel’s body would be transported to Navahermosa, in the Toledo province, at the request of his family.
He said De Miguel’s teammates and club officials would be present for a “final farewell”.
Club president Felipe Minambres said players and their families would likely need help to cope with De Miguel’s death.
“We will need professional help and the help of all of our fans,” he said.
“They will be feeling the same way that we are feeling today.”
Fans and well wishers gathered at the club’s stadium for a makeshift vigil at Gate 9 — De Miguel’s shirt number.
A minute’s silence was also held before UEFA Champions League games on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT).
Fans formed a makeshift vigil outside Gate 9 at Tenerife’s stadium in honour of Jesus de Miguel. Credit: Getty The club asked for its league game at Granada on Saturday to be postponed.
The heavy collision happened when Owono rushed out of his area all the way to midfield to challenge for a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.
De Miguel initially curled on his knees, clutching his torso for a few seconds, before he fell over onto his back, with his arms falling to his sides.
Owono was walking off the field after being shown the red card but turned around and joined the other players rushing to check on De Miguel.
Spanish media said De Miguel is survived by his wife and their daughter.