Spanish football mourns Jesús de Miguel after fatal match collision

Jesús de Miguel, Tenerife's 30-year-old striker, died after a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Spanish second-division match. ABC reported that the collision happened on Monday, November 2, and that De Miguel died on Tuesday.

The striker was taken into intensive care after the collision, according to Japan Times. Al Jazeera reported that he suffered cardiac arrest following the impact.

On November 4, Owono spoke publicly through a statement released by FC Andorra. He described the period as the "hardest days of my life", according to the Guardian. A teammate defended him, saying he would never set out to injure an opponent, The Independent reported.

The Equatorial Guinea football federation also wrote to Tenerife to express condolences and support for Owono, who had faced criticism after the collision, according to Fanpage.

On November 5, L'Équipe reported that Spanish police had opened an investigation into De Miguel's medical care. Separately, a preliminary autopsy identified accidental chest trauma as the cause of death, according to Adnkronos.

De Miguel's funeral took place that Thursday in Navahermosa. His family thanked people for their support and said they would always remember "the mark he has left on so many people", the BBC reported. Spain's national team coach and the president of Real Madrid joined his family and teammates, according to ESPN FC.

By Saturday, November 7, the public farewell had returned to football grounds. Tenerife's Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium was the centre of tributes, ABC reported. Valencia and Real Madrid also honoured De Miguel at Mestalla, where players wore commemorative shirts, according to Infobae.

The preliminary medical finding is accidental chest trauma. That finding is separate from the police investigation into the care De Miguel received, as reported by Adnkronos and L'Équipe. The supplied coverage does not establish a final outcome of that inquiry.

His family has asked for peace and privacy to grieve. In its November 5 statement, the family thanked supporters while asking for the calm the situation required, according to ABC.

The main unresolved issue is what investigators establish about De Miguel's medical treatment after the collision. L'Équipe reported the inquiry's focus, but the supplied coverage gives no timetable for findings. The autopsy findings reported by Adnkronos also remain preliminary.