Soccer Death: Prosecutors Probe Involuntary Manslaughter After Field Collision
Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, 30, died after a goalkeeper struck him in the chest during a second-division match in Spain.
By Kofi Costa ·
A 30-year-old soccer player died after a collision on the field in Spain, prompting police to open an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter. Jesús de Miguel, a forward for Tenerife, suffered cardiac arrest following the impact and did not survive.
The incident occurred on Monday during added time in a second-division match against Andorra. De Miguel was challenging for a long ball near midfield when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his area to contest the play. Owono struck De Miguel in the chest. The referee showed Owono a straight red card for the collision.
De Miguel curled up on his knees and clutched his torso before falling to his back. He was transported to a hospital. The match, which was tied 2-2, was abandoned. Tenerife, based in Spain's Canary Islands, released a statement on Tuesday describing the club as heartbroken.
Spanish National Police confirmed on Tuesday that an investigation had begun. Prosecutors are also involved in the case. De Miguel was a native of Madrid who made his professional debut in 2015 with Leganés B. He joined Tenerife last year after playing for several lower-division clubs.
The club stated that there are no words of comfort to alleviate the profound sorrow. The statement added that the club stands with the player's devastated family and the Tenerife community. Andorra, owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique, issued its own statement extending condolences to the family and colleagues of De Miguel.
Reactions spread across the soccer world on Tuesday. Real Madrid players held a minute of silence during training. Forward Kylian Mbappé posted on social media that there were no words for the sadness. Espanyol postponed the presentation of its new coach. The Spanish soccer federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina match scheduled for later that day.
English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool also offered condolences on social media. De Miguel is the second Spanish soccer player to die from a collision in recent years. In 2025, 19-year-old goalkeeper Raúl Ramírez died from head injuries after two cardiorespiratory arrests during a fifth-division match.
