Keeper Owono: "I Would Never Intentionally Hurt Anyone"
Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono "would never intentionally hurt anyone" and has been "deeply affected" by the death of his Tenerife forward team-mate, Jesus de Miguel, according to a statement from Lautaro Spatz, Andorra centre-back.
De Miguel, 30, passed away after sustaining a serious injury in a collision with Owono during a Spanish second-division match on Monday. The football world has been paying tribute to De Miguel, a father-of-one who joined Tenerife in summer 2025, with a minute's silence at European games this week.
In a social media post, Spatz expressed Owono's grief:
"I also want to say a few words about my team-mate, goalkeeper, and friend, who is deeply affected by what has happened... Those of us who know him know the kind of person he is, how much he is suffering at this moment, and that he would never intentionally hurt anyone."
He went on to highlight the tragic nature of the incident:
"In football, unfortunate incidents can happen, but no-one could imagine that one of them might end with such tragic consequences."
Football World Mourns Tenerife Striker De Miguel
Tenerife and Andorra were drawing 2-2 when the incident occurred in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Owono ran towards the center circle to clear a long ball, leading to a collision with De Miguel. The striker lay motionless on the pitch, and medical staff treated him before his transport to hospital. Owono was sent off, and the match was abandoned.
Since the incident, Owono has deactivated his Instagram account, and Spanish police have opened a routine investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter.
Tributes and Mourning
Mourners laid flowers and lit candles at Tenerife's Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez beneath a black and white image of De Miguel. The club observed six days of official mourning and suspended all club activities. Players, staff, and officials will attend De Miguel's funeral in Navahermosa, Toledo.
Tenerife will also open their home ground on Saturday evening to allow supporters to pay their respects. A statement from the club asked for privacy for De Miguel's family and expressed their desire for him to rest in peace.