By Sumayya
BARCELONA, Spain — Spanish police have started looking into a case of possible accidental killing after a football player lost his life. The death happened after he crashed into the other team’s goalkeeper during a game in the second division.
Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel lost his life after his heart stopped beating following the crash on the field, his team stated on Tuesday. He was 30 years old.
De Miguel was fighting to get the ball close to the middle of the field on Monday when he was hit in the chest by Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono. Owono had run from the far side in a clear try to kick the ball away. Owono was given a direct red card and ordered to leave the game for this action, which took place during extra time.
The country’s National Police stated on Tuesday that they have started an inquiry. Under the laws of Spain, any deaths that do not happen from natural reasons, including accidents, must be looked into by the courts.
De Miguel was rushed to a medical center, and the game, which was tied at 2-2, was stopped and given up after the accident.
The sports team based on Spain’s Canary Islands stated that they were deeply saddened. The violent crash occurred when Owono ran out of his penalty box all the way to the center line to fight for a long pass that De Miguel was trying to get to.
At first, De Miguel bent down on his knees while holding his chest for a few moments before he rolled over onto his back, with his arms dropping to his sides.
Owono was walking away from the pitch after receiving the red card, but he spun around and joined the rest of the players who were running over to check on De Miguel.
The goalkeeper’s Instagram page, which had close to 30,000 followers, was turned off by Tuesday.
De Miguel, who was born in Madrid, started his adult playing career with Leganes B in the year 2015 and later played for several lower-tier teams in Spain. He started playing for Tenerife last year.
Spanish news outlets stated that De Miguel leaves behind his wife and their young daughter.
There are no comforting words to say, the team’s public message stated. There is completely nothing that can make this deep feeling of sadness any lighter. We stand right beside his broken family, the people he loved, and everyone in the Tenerife group.
Andorra, a team that belongs to past Barcelona star player Gerard Pique, also shared its deep sadness, alongside other teams, the Spanish football group, and La Liga.
We want to send our deepest thoughts of sadness to the family of Jesus de Miguel, to all the people he worked with, his friends, and to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace, Andorra stated in a public message.
Pique wrote on X: I am sorry with all my soul. Rest in peace, Jesus.
The players of Real Madrid stood still for a minute of quiet respect for De Miguel during their practice time, while another top-tier team, Espanyol, delayed showing off its new team manager to the public.
Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe wrote on social media: So much sadness. There are no words.
Argentina star Lionel Messi wrote on Instagram: There are no words. My thoughts of sadness and lots of power to all his family and friends.
English football teams Manchester United and Liverpool also joined in to share their words of sadness on social media platforms.
The Spanish football group pushed back two Copa del Rey games and one Copa de la Reina game that were planned to happen later on Tuesday.
Injuries that put a person’s life in danger from crashing during football games are very unusual.
Last year in Spain, a 19-year-old goalkeeper lost his life from head harm that happened during a crash in a fifth-division game. Colindres goalkeeper Raul Ramirez had his heart and breathing stop two times, once on the pitch and then inside the rescue vehicle while being driven to a medical center. He was found to be brain dead two days later.
In the year 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun lost his life from head harm he took during a crash in a game while playing for CSKA Moscow.
Malaga goalkeeper Jose Antonio Gallardo lost his life in January 1987, more than three weeks after a crash with Celta Vigo forward Baltazar during a second-division match.
