Nov 3 (Reuters) – Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel died on Tuesday at the age of 30, a day after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision during a match, the Spanish second-tier club said.
The Segunda Division game against Andorra was abandoned seven minutes into stoppage time after De Miguel collapsed after a clash with away goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who had rushed out of his area to clear a long ball and struck the forward in the chest with his knee.
“Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing of Jesus de Miguel Alameda,” the club said.
“There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness.”
De Miguel lay motionless as players from both teams signalled for medical assistance. Owono was shown a straight red card.
Medical staff treated de Miguel on the pitch for more than five minutes before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.
“I’m sorry with all my heart. Rest in peace Jesus,” Andorra President Gerard Pique wrote on social media.
FIXTURES CANCELLED
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed all matches scheduled for Tuesday, including fixtures in the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina.
The governing body also called off the official presentation for Spain’s Under-21 international against Japan as a mark of respect and solidarity towards De Miguel’s family, teammates and Tenerife supporters.
UEFA announced that a period of silence would be observed before all European games this week. Spanish sides Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Villarreal are in Champions League action on Tuesday.
“We are heartbroken by the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda,” UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said. “We have searched for words and found only silence.”
Football clubs across Spain paid tributes to De Miguel.
“Our thoughts and support are with his family, friends and loved ones during these difficult times,” Barcelona said in a statement.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its condolences and affection to his family, his teammates, his club, and all his loved ones,” the club said.
De Miguel was born in Madrid in 1996 and joined Tenerife from Castellon ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, scoring 11 goals last season.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk and Ruairidh Barlow in Barcelona; additional reporting by Rohith Nair; Editing by Peter Rutherford, Xevi Fontdegloria and Ed Osmond)
