Owono faces suspension and police probe after De Miguel death

Jesus Owono faces a dual scrutiny from the Spanish Football Federation and local police after a high challenge in Monday's La Liga 2 match resulted in the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel. The 30-year-old player died in a hospital in Santa Cruz on Tuesday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. The incident occurred during stoppage time when Owono, playing for Andorra, collided with De Miguel in the center circle.

Owono received a straight red card from referee Manuel Angel Perez Hernandez for the challenge. Although the goalkeeper initially walked toward the touchline, he returned to the pitch as medical staff rushed in. He remained on the field until club officials led him down the tunnel as De Miguel was carried to an ambulance on a stretcher. Videos from the match show Tenerife fans chanting “assassin” at the goalkeeper.

The 25-year-old was born in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, but moved to Spain's Basque Country as a child. He began his career at Antiguoko in San Sebastian before joining Real Sociedad. Owono signed with Alaves in 2017 and made his first-team debut in January 2022. He became the first player born in Equatorial Guinea to appear in La Liga. After 20 appearances for Alaves, he moved to Andorra on a two-year contract in August.

Owono has represented Equatorial Guinea 46 times since his debut in March 2019. He played every minute of his country's three group games in the 2025 AFCON. He also featured in both AFCON 2027 qualifiers against DR Congo and Sierra Leone in September. His international career has been steady, with no reported disciplinary issues prior to this match.

The challenge occurred when Andorra, trailing 2-0 with seven minutes remaining, pushed forward for a late comeback. Owono was positioned well outside his penalty area. He sprinted forward to meet an aerial ball, striking De Miguel in the chest and head with his knee. De Miguel had been leading a counter-attack and appeared likely to have a clear run on goal. The collision led to the forward collapsing on the turf.

The Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Code allows for a suspension of four to 12 matches for violent conduct resulting in serious injury. An investigation will assess the context of the challenge before determining the final penalty. Many fans on social media have called for a life ban or criminal charges, with some directing racist abuse toward Owono's online profiles.

Local media reports indicate that The Homicide Group of the National Police in Santa Cruz has opened an investigation. The police will determine if the challenge meets the threshold for criminal negligence. Article 142 of the Spanish Penal Code distinguishes between manslaughter by gross negligence, which carries up to four years in prison, and manslaughter by lesser negligence, which results in a fine calculated over three to 18 months.