Jesus Owono, the goalkeeper involved in a fatal collision with Spanish footballer Jesus De Miguel, has released a heartfelt statement expressing his grief and respect for the deceased player. Owono, who plays for Andorra, described the incident as the most difficult days of his life, struggling to find words to process what happened. He emphasized that he will face the consequences with utmost respect and dedication. Owono's statement came after De Miguel's death on Tuesday morning due to cardiac arrest following the collision during a match between Andorra and Tenerife on Monday.
The collision occurred when Owono rushed towards the centre circle to clear a long ball and appeared to strike De Miguel in the chest with his knee. As a result, Owono was sent off, and the match was subsequently suspended. De Miguel was taken into intensive care after the incident. The Spanish national police have opened a routine investigation into De Miguel's death, as is standard procedure in such cases. This investigation aims to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
In support of Owono, FC Andorra defender Lautaro Spatz defended his teammate on social media, stating that Owono would never intentionally hurt anyone. Spatz described De Miguel's death as a tragedy that has left them completely broken and saddened. He offered his condolences to De Miguel's family, teammates, and the Tenerife club. Spatz emphasized that Owono is deeply affected by what happened and urged fans to understand his character.
The goalkeeper's Instagram account was deactivated after some users made abusive comments under his posts, including calling him a "murderer". This backlash prompted Spatz to come to Owono's defence, highlighting his teammate's good character and the unintentional nature of the incident. Meanwhile, the Equatoguinean Football Federation expressed support for Owono, stating that the 25-year-old was experiencing profound sorrow and grief.
Tributes have been pouring in for De Miguel from the football community. Como midfielder Nico Paz held up a t-shirt in memory of De Miguel after scoring his team's third goal against French club RC Lens in a Champions League clash. The t-shirt featured a picture of De Miguel and the Spanish phrase "descansa en paz", which translates to "rest in peace". This gesture demonstrated solidarity and respect from the football community.
De Miguel's club, CD Tenerife, announced his tragic passing on Tuesday morning, expressing their heartbreak and sadness. The club declared six days of official mourning and announced a memorial service at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium for Saturday evening, inviting supporters to attend. Fans gathered at the stadium to pay tribute to De Miguel, showing their respect and grief.
Both Andorra and CD Tenerife have released statements offering condolences to De Miguel's family, teammates, and friends. Andorra's statement described their hearts as broken and devastated, while CD Tenerife mentioned that there are no words of comfort to alleviate their overwhelming sadness. Owono has made 47 international appearances for Equatorial Guinea and will likely face questions about the incident in the coming days.
Key points
- Jesus Owono released a statement expressing his grief and respect for Jesus De Miguel.
- The Spanish national police have opened a routine investigation into De Miguel's death.
- Tributes have been pouring in from the football community, including a gesture from Como midfielder Nico Paz.
