Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel dies after on-field collision
Thirty-year-old Jesus de Miguel collapsed during a Segunda División match after a clash with the opposing goalkeeper and died the following day, prompting match postponements and tributes across Spanish football.
Jesus de Miguel, a 30-year-old forward for CD Tenerife, died on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Segunda División match. The game was halted seven minutes into stoppage time when De Miguel fell after Owono’s knee struck his chest while attempting to clear a long ball.
Medical personnel attended to De Miguel on the pitch for more than five minutes before he was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Owono received a straight red card for the foul.
"We are heartbroken by the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda," UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said, adding that the organization had searched for words and found only silence.
The Spanish Football Federation postponed all matches scheduled for Tuesday, including Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina fixtures, and cancelled the under-21 friendly against Japan as a sign of respect. UEFA announced a moment of silence before European matches later in the week.
Clubs across Spain issued statements of condolence. Barcelona expressed its thoughts and support for De Miguel’s family, friends and loved ones.
Andorra President Gerard Piqué posted a message on social media expressing sorrow and wishing peace for De Miguel.