Jesús de Miguel: Tenerife Plans Stadium Mass, Island Mourns as Owono Case Moves to Disciplinary Review

CD Tenerife and the island of Tenerife are preparing to say goodbye to forward Jesús de Miguel, who died Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 30, a day after a stoppage-time collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono in a Spanish second-division match. Here is what has been reported since the club announced his death.

Mass at the stadium, burial in Navahermosa

Tenerife will hold a Mass for De Miguel at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, the stadium where he collapsed, Spanish newspaper La Razón reported. The bishop of the Diocese of Tenerife, Eloy Santiago, is to officiate.

His body will be taken to Navahermosa, a town in the province of Toledo where his family comes from, though he was born in Madrid. He will be buried there, and the full Tenerife squad is expected to attend, according to La Razón.

An island in mourning

The Cabildo de Tenerife, the island’s government, declared official mourning starting at midnight Wednesday, with the island’s flag at half-staff, and called residents to a minute of silence at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday outside its headquarters, La Razón reported. “All of Tenerife is in mourning,” said Cabildo president Rosa Dávila (translated).

Since Tuesday morning, fans have been leaving flowers, candles and messages at Gate 9 of the stadium, which has become a makeshift memorial, and the club’s supporters’ federation held a minute of silence there Tuesday evening.

What is known, and not known, about the cause of death

Reports say De Miguel took a heavy blow to the chest from Owono’s knee and went into cardiorespiratory arrest on the field. He was revived and admitted to intensive care at Hospital Universitario de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, and the club reported a neurological decline before announcing his death at 8 a.m. Tuesday, La Razón reported.

No autopsy findings had been made public as of early Wednesday ET. Enrique Arnaldo, head of the sports-law section of the Madrid Bar Association, told 20minutos that any criminal case would hinge on an autopsy clearly showing the cardiac arrest and death were caused solely by that blow (translated). Until official findings are released, the precise medical cause should be treated as unconfirmed.

Criminal charges look unlikely, lawyers say

Spain’s National Police opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter under the standard protocol for any non-natural death. Police sources told 20minutos the inquiry is routine and will most likely be closed. Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui has called a criminal case “very difficult,” citing Spanish Supreme Court doctrine that injuries in sport are generally not punishable unless they involve a clear assault outside the run of play.

Criminal lawyers consulted by 20minutos agreed, describing the play as a tragic accident during normal play. Opening an investigation does not mean Owono committed a crime.

What sporting sanction could Owono face?

Owono was sent off with a straight red card. The Spanish federation’s disciplinary committee will review the referee’s report and video. Sports lawyer Toni Roca told 20minutos the most likely rule is Article 102 of the disciplinary code, covering violent play with serious consequences, which carries a ban of four to 12 matches. A much tougher article, with bans of two to three years, requires an “unequivocal intent to cause harm,” which Roca said he does not see here (translated).

A fake Owono statement, and a case of mistaken identity

A long apology attributed to Owono spread widely on X on Tuesday. It is fake. FC Andorra told RTVE’s fact-check unit that the statement was false, and the account posting it later admitted it was a fan account. Owono’s real X account has been inactive since 2024.

According to COPE radio, cited by La Razón, Owono is deeply affected and wants to contact De Miguel’s family privately before saying anything in public.

RTVE also reported that Michel Owono, a regional-league player in Catalonia with no connection to the incident, has received hateful and racist messages from people confusing him with the Andorra goalkeeper.

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Earlier coverage: Tenerife Striker Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After Collision With Andorra Goalkeeper Jesús Owono (Nov 3)