Jesús de Miguel death: What goalkeeper Owono could face

The death of Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel has left Spanish football in mourning, prompting concerns about the potential consequences for his opponent, FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono. As tributes pour in for the 30-year-old, attention has also turned towards what may await Owono, including possible disciplinary sanctions and criminal proceedings.

The Equatorial Guinea international is said to be profoundly affected by De Miguel’s passing and has faced social-media abuse from some users who have called him a "murderer." However, the tragic outcome does not necessarily mean that Owono committed any wrongdoing. The specific disciplinary and criminal consequences will depend on a detailed examination of the challenge, the circumstances surrounding it, and the relevant rules.

The collision occurred during Tenerife’s match against Andorra on Monday. De Miguel was pursuing a long ball near the halfway line as Tenerife sought a late winner, while Owono charged out of his penalty area to clear the ball. Unfortunately, his knee struck De Miguel in the chest, causing him to go down and receive medical attention on the field for over five minutes.

The goalkeeper was subsequently shown a red card, and the match was halted in the seventh minute of stoppage time, tied at 2-2. De Miguel was later pronounced dead in the ambulance en route to the hospital, suffering a cardiac arrest. According to Spanish law, Article 102 of the Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary code allows for a suspension of between four and 12 matches for players who commit violent conduct against an opponent during play and cause serious injury or harm.

However, this provision is not automatically applied, and disciplinary authorities must assess the nature of the challenge, the goalkeeper's actions, and the surrounding circumstances before determining if Article 102 applies and deciding on an appropriate sanction, if any. The final decision will rest with the relevant disciplinary body after reviewing all available evidence.