Spanish police have opened a criminal investigation after CD Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, 30, died following an on‑field collision in Spain’s second division, ESPN reported.
What police are examining
The Western Journal article states Spanish police opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter after the incident. Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor José Luis Sánchez‑Jáuregui told Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were unlikely because the collision occurred during play. The article notes Spanish law requires judicial investigations into deaths from non‑natural causes, including accidents.
How the collision unfolded
According to the report, de Miguel suffered cardiac arrest after colliding with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during Monday’s match. The incident occurred in stoppage time with the score 2–2, as both players converged on a long ball near midfield. The article says Owono had rushed outside his penalty area and struck de Miguel in the chest, receiving a straight red card. The match was abandoned, and de Miguel was taken to a hospital, where he later died, ESPN reported.
Club confirmation
CD Tenerife confirmed de Miguel’s death on Tuesday in a post on X. An automatic translation on the platform, cited by the article, conveyed the club’s message of grief and condolences to his family.
League response and tributes
The article states the Spanish soccer federation postponed several domestic cup matches and that UEFA announced moments of silence at its games throughout the week. ESPN was cited for tributes from high‑profile players, including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, while FC Andorra owner Gerard Piqué wrote “Rest in peace, Jesús” on X, according to the report.
A rare but not isolated danger
ESPN was also cited noting that 19‑year‑old Spanish goalkeeper Raúl Ramírez died last year after head injuries in a fifth‑division match. The article references past fatalities in similar collisions involving Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun (2001) and Spanish goalkeeper José Antonio Gallardo (1987). The Associated Press was cited for reporting that de Miguel leaves behind his wife and young daughter.
Another incident draws attention
The article points to a separate collision in Spain’s second division, described in a social media post by Mario Nawfal, that reportedly left a player unconscious and led to a straight red card and an ambulance response. Those details were presented as social‑media claims in the report.
