FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has been handed a 12-match ban by the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee following a challenge that led to the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel. The 25-year-old goalkeeper was shown a red card after colliding with De Miguel during the closing stages of a Spanish second-division encounter between the two clubs on November 2. De Miguel, 30, died the following day.
In explaining its decision, the disciplinary committee said it was guided by the incidents as documented in the referee’s report, which stated that Owono was dismissed for “violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play”. The committee acknowledged the tragic consequences of the incident, noting that De Miguel Alameda’s death was widely known. It further explained that the nature of Owono’s actions and the circumstances surrounding the incident warranted the maximum punishment of a 12-match suspension.
In a separate decision, the federation ruled that the abandoned fixture between FC Andorra and Tenerife would not be replayed. The match was halted seven minutes into stoppage time following the incident, with both teams level at 2-2. The result will therefore stand. According to the federation, maintaining the scoreline was considered the most appropriate and respectful decision given the exceptional and tragic circumstances surrounding the match. It also noted that the decision would prevent the game from resuming at the exact point where the incident occurred.
Following the tragedy, FC Andorra released a statement on Owono’s behalf on November 4, in which the goalkeeper described the period as “the most difficult days” of his life and expressed “enormous pain” over De Miguel’s death. FC Andorra manager Carles Manso disclosed on Thursday that the Equatorial Guinea international is yet to decide whether he will return to professional football following the incident.
Manso said Owono is currently spending time with his family and has been given the freedom to decide on his future without pressure from the club. He stressed that FC Andorra would continue to offer the goalkeeper the necessary support as he comes to terms with the tragedy.
“What we have to do is support him in every way and be close to him. “We will give him space so that he feels completely free to make any decision, whether he wants to return, when, or if he does not want to return,” Manso said. “When he feels it is appropriate and when he feels genuinely ready to take a decision like that, he will do so.”
