Goalkeeper speaks out after fatal collision, deactivates Insta over online abuse

FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has described the death of Tenerife forward Jesus De Miguel as the most difficult period of his life, making his first public statement after the fatal on-field collision that has sent shockwaves through Spanish football.

Owono, 25, was involved in a collision with De Miguel during a Spanish second-division match between FC Andorra and Tenerife on Monday. The Tenerife forward suffered a cardiac arrest following the incident and was rushed to hospital, where he was admitted to intensive care. He died on Tuesday morning, aged 30.

In a statement released by FC Andorra on Wednesday, Owono spoke of his difficulty in coming to terms with the tragedy and said his thoughts remained with the deceased footballer and his family.

"These are the most difficult days of my life. I struggle to find the words, and it is very hard for me to process what has happened," Owono said.

"I feel an immense amount of pain over the loss of Jesus. My thoughts are with him, his family and everyone who loved him. I know there will be many questions to address, and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect. But right now, honestly, I cannot think about anything other than Jesus and the pain we are experiencing. Rest in peace, Jesus."

Owono's statement came a day after he deactivated his Instagram account amid a wave of online abuse following the incident. Some users had reportedly posted abusive comments, including calling the goalkeeper a 'murderer'. **BREAKING: CD Tenerife confirms striker Jess de Miguel has died at 30.** The forward collapsed in stoppage time of Monday’s 2-2 draw with FC Andorra after a heavy collision with goalkeeper Jess Owono near the halfway line. Owono was sent off and the match was abandoned. De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest, was resuscitated in the ambulance, but his condition deteriorated overnight. He passed away at 8:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday at Hospital Nuestra Seora de Candelaria. Club statement: “Rotos de dolor No hay palabras de consuelo.” The family has asked for privacy. Rest in peace, Jess. #RIPJesusDeMiguel #CDTenerife https://t.co/B9bCk1e7QV— Aarushi Sharma (@aarushisharmaX) November 3, 2026The Equatorial Guinea international, who has made 47 appearances for his country, was sent off following the collision. The incident occurred during stoppage time, with the two sides level at 2-2.NEVER INTENTIONALLY HURT ANYONE

While Owono has largely stayed away from public platforms since the tragedy, his FC Andorra teammate Lautaro Spatz came out in his defence, describing the goalkeeper as a friend who was deeply affected by what had happened.

Spatz, who paid tribute to De Miguel in a social media post, also spoke about the emotional toll the incident had taken on Owono and urged people to understand that the collision was never intentional.

"I also want to say a few words about my teammate, 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," Spatz wrote.

"In football, unfortunate incidents can happen, but no one could imagine that one of them might end with such tragic consequences."

The Argentine defender also extended his condolences to De Miguel's family, friends and the Tenerife community, saying the tragedy had left everyone at FC Andorra devastated.

"Today, football is irrelevant. The only thing that remains is to share the pain, express our deepest respect and send our support to the family and everyone suffering from this terrible loss," he added.

The incident has also prompted an investigation by Spanish National Police into the circumstances surrounding De Miguel's death. Authorities are examining the case as a possible involuntary manslaughter, although such investigations are a standard procedure following deaths classified as non-natural in Spain.

FC Andorra have also offered psychological support to members of the club affected by the tragedy. The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation expressed its backing for Owono, acknowledging the profound grief he was experiencing following the incident.- Ends