The death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel after a collision during Monday’s match against FC Andorra has left Spanish football balancing grief, accountability and concern for both players at the centre of the tragedy.

De Miguel, 30, suffered serious injuries after the late-game incident and died the following day. Tenerife has suspended activities for six days of mourning, while supporters have left flowers and candles at the club’s stadium. The player’s family asked for privacy during what it called a “terrible time.”¹

The central contrast in the response concerns goalkeeper Jesús Owono. The referee sent him off after the collision, and Spanish police opened a routine inquiry because the death was deemed non-natural. But Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s chief prosecutor said criminal proceedings were “very unlikely.”²

Owono’s teammate Lautaro Spatz has argued that the consequences should not be confused with intent. He said the goalkeeper was “deeply affected” and “would never intentionally hurt anyone,” describing the collision as an unfortunate football incident with unimaginable consequences.³ Owono subsequently deactivated his Instagram account after receiving abusive messages online; Andorra said psychological support was available to those at the club.

That appeal for care has not displaced the scale of the mourning. A minute’s silence was observed at European matches, and football figures including Raphinha and José Mourinho spoke of the shock felt across the sport. Mourinho said the event was “sad for everyone,” extending sympathy to De Miguel’s family while acknowledging the difficult position of the goalkeeper involved.¹

The shared message from clubs, teammates and supporters is that De Miguel’s death is a profound loss. Their differences lie chiefly in emphasis: Tenerife’s community is focused on remembrance, while Owono’s teammates and federation have also urged that grief not turn into personal blame before the investigation is complete.