Teammate Defends FC Andorra Goalkeeper After Tenerife Forward Dies in Collision

A Tenerife forward died on Tuesday after a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second-division match on Monday. Owono was sent off after charging from his goal and striking the 30-year-old striker, who suffered cardiac arrest and later passed away. Spanish police have opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter, a routine step under Spanish law, though chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told news agency EFE that criminal proceedings are "very unlikely". Andorra defender Lautaro Spatz posted on Instagram to mourn the striker and to speak on Owono’s behalf, noting that those who know the goalkeeper would not intend to harm anyone. > "In football, unfortunate incidents happen but no-one could imagine that one of these could end in such tragic circumstances," Spatz wrote. Tenerife fans gathered at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium to lay tributes, and the club announced six days of official mourning and a memorial service on Saturday. Domestic league matches were suspended as a mark of respect, while Champions League fixtures continued, including a Barcelona win over Aston Villa that began with a minute’s silence. Barcelona forward Raphinha, speaking to CBS Sports, said he did not want to discuss the game and sent his thoughts to the victim’s family, adding that the incident affected him deeply. Both Tenerife and FC Andorra released statements expressing condolences to the striker’s family and acknowledging the shock and sadness felt by the football community.