11/03/2026 07:14:00
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11/03 07:12 CST Spanish police investigating possible involuntary manslaughter
after soccer player dies following on-field collision
Spanish police investigating possible involuntary manslaughter after soccer
player dies following on-field collision
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) --- Spanish police investigating possible involuntary
manslaughter after soccer player dies following on-field collision.
THIS IS AN APNewsAlert. Check back for updates. AP's earlier story is below.
Tenerife forward Jess de Miguel has died after he suffered cardiac arrest from
an on-field collision in a Spanish second-division match, his club said
Tuesday. He was 30.
De Miguel was challenging for the ball near midfield on Monday when he was
struck in the chest by the onrushing Andorra goalkeeper Jess Owono during
added time.
Owono was shown a straight red card for the incident.
De Miguel was taken to a hospital and the match, tied 2-2, was abandoned after
the incident.
Tenerife said in a statement to Spanish media late Monday that De Miguel
suffered cardiac arrest but that his pulse was restored in the ambulance to the
hospital. However, it later said his condition had "worsened neurologically"
and subsequently announced that De Miguel had died at 8 a.m.
The club located on Spain's Canary Islands said it was "heartbroken."
De Miguel, a Madrid native, made his professional debut in 2015 with Legans B
and has since played for a number of lower-divisions clubs in Spain. He joined
Tenerife last year.
"There are no words of comfort," the club statement read. "There is absolutely
nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow. We stand with his
devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire Tenerife community."
The heavy collision happened when Owono rushed out of his area all the way to
midfield to challenge for a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.
De Miguel initially curled on his knees, clutching his torso for a few seconds,
before he fell over onto his back, with his arms falling to his sides.
Owono was walking off the field after being shown the red card but turned
around and joined the other players rushing to check on De Miguel.
Andorra, which is owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique, also offered its
condolences, along with other clubs, the Spanish soccer federation and La Liga.
"We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jess de Miguel, to
all his colleagues and friends, and to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace,"
Andorra said in a statement.
The players of Real Madrid held a minute of silence for De Miguel during
training, while fellow topflight club Espanyol postponed the presentation of
its new coach.
English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool joined in offering their
condolences on social media.
The Spanish soccer federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa
de la Reina matches to be held later on Tuesday.
Life-threatening injuries from collisions in soccer are extremely rare.
Last year in Spain, a 19-year-old goalkeeper died from head injuries suffered
during a collision in a fifth-division match. Colindres goalkeeper Ral Ramrez
had two cardiorespiratory arrests, one on the field and then in the ambulance
while being transported to a hospital. He was declared brain dead two days
later.
In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun was playing for CSKA Moscow when
he died from head injuries received in a collision during a match.
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