Jesus Owono handed 12-match ban after tragic death of Jesus de Miguel

The Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary committee has confirmed a 12-match suspension for FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono. The decision follows a fatal collision during a second-division match on November 2, which led to the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.

The incident occurred late in the game when Owono, 25, rushed into midfield to clear an aerial ball and collided with De Miguel. The Tenerife striker was hospitalized in intensive care but tragically passed away the following day. According to official reports, the referee’s notes indicated that Owono was sent off for striking his opponent in the chest with his leg using "excessive force."

Maximum Sanction Imposed

The federation stated that the 12-match ban represents the maximum punishment possible. The committee noted that the tragic outcome was public knowledge and justified the severity of the sanction based on the nature of the conduct and the surrounding circumstances. Additionally, the federation ruled that the 2-2 scoreline from the abandoned match will stand, citing it as the most respectful course of action to avoid resuming play from the moment of the tragedy.

"These are the hardest days of my life. I struggle to find the words to process anything."

Jesus Owono

Owono, an Equatorial Guinea international, withdrew from his national team's upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following the event. FC Andorra manager Carles Manso has publicly supported the goalkeeper, stating that the club will give him the necessary time and space. Manso emphasized that it will be up to Owono to decide when he feels ready to return to professional football.

The football community has been deeply affected by the loss. A memorial was held at Tenerife's stadium, and De Miguel’s funeral was attended by high-profile figures including Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid President Florentino Perez. Meanwhile, media reports indicate that Spanish police have opened a judicially supervised investigation into the circumstances of the collision.