Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has become the center of a global controversy after his high-impact challenge during a Monday La Liga 2 match resulted in the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel. The 30-year-old forward tragically passed away at a hospital in Santa Cruz on Tuesday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest in the immediate aftermath of the stoppage-time collision. How did Owono react to the collision. Thankfully, incredibly rare, and there are no precedents established in a tragic case like this, the death of a player due to an act on the field in the midst of a match is.
Owono, a 25-year-old goalkeeper born in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, moved to Spain’s Basque Country as a child.
His footballing career began at the San Sebastian youth club Antiguoko at age eight before moving to Real Sociedad and representing the Basque Country at the under-16 level.
He joined Alaves in 2017, rising through the ranks to make his first-team debut in January 2022. During his time at Alaves, he made 20 appearances across La Liga and the Copa del Rey before securing a move to Andorra, where he signed a permanent two-year deal this past August. Becoming the first international born in his country to appear in La Liga, he joined Alaves in 2017 and worked his way through the youth ranks before making his first-team debut in a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad in January 2022. Keeping six clean sheets in 20 league games before earning a permanent move in August and signing a two-year deal, he went on to make 20 appearances in the league and Copa del Rey but spent last season on loan with La Liga 2 side Andorra.
The incident occurred while Andorra was pushing for a late comeback from a 2-0 deficit. As a ball was cleared toward the halfway line, De Miguel appeared to be in a position to contest the ball, prompting Owono to rush out of his area. The goalkeeper leaped into the challenge, appearing to strike the forward with his knee in the head and chest area. Referee Manuel Angel Perez Hernandez immediately issued a straight red card to Owono for the incident. Seeking to complete an unlikely comeback from 2-0 down with just seven minutes of normal time remaining, the keeper was standing well outside his area as 10-man Andorra piled on late pressure.
Following the collision, Owono initially walked toward the touchline expecting the dismissal but later jogged back to the center circle after noticing the severity of the situation as medical staff rushed onto the pitch. As De Miguel was stretchered away to an ambulance, the goalkeeper remained on the field until club officials led him down the tunnel. During his exit, reports noted that fans in the stadium directed chants toward him, while his personal social media accounts have since been targeted by racist abuse and labels of a murderer. However, as he walked off, after exchanging a handshake with teammate Nacho Quintana, he turned back as medical staff were beckoned frantically onto the pitch and jogged to join players surrounding De Miguel as he lay prostrate on the turf. Why has Owono received online abuse. Yes, and they almost certainly will.
The legal and disciplinary implications of the incident are now coming into focus. Reports from Tenerife indicate that the Homicide Group of the National Police in Santa Cruz has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. Legal experts point to Article 142 of the Spanish Penal Code, which distinguishes between manslaughter due to gross negligence and less serious negligence. Gross negligence charges, if proven, carry potential prison sentences of up to four years, whereas lesser findings could result in fines. Can a footballer be charged with negligent manslaughter. If proven, can carry a prison sentence of up to four years, while the lesser charge carries a fine calculated over three to 18 months, gross negligence.
In the sporting arena, the Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Code provides clear guidelines for violent conduct. Players found guilty of causing serious injury through excessive force face suspensions ranging from four to 12 matches. While the investigation continues, officials are assessing whether the challenge warrants criminal proceedings or solely standard disciplinary action within the professional football framework. Many football fans are suggesting that criminal charges should also follow, while a severe sporting punishment seems inevitable.
Throughout his career, Owono has been a significant presence on the international stage, making his debut for Equatorial Guinea in 2019 at age 18. He has earned 46 caps for his country, most recently playing every minute of their group matches during the 2025 AFCON and appearing in both AFCON 2027 qualifiers against DR Congo and Sierra Leone this past September.
