Jesús Owono banned for 12 matches after collision with Jesús de Miguel
Spain's football federation gave the Andorra goalkeeper its maximum ban, saying he used excessive force in the challenge after which the Tenerife striker died.
Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono has been suspended for 12 matches over the collision with Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died the day after the game. The disciplinary committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced the ban on Friday, 13 November, saying Owono used excessive force.
Twelve matches is the maximum the rule allows. The committee treated it as a serious offence under Article 102 of its disciplinary code, beIN Sports reported.
What happened in Tenerife vs Andorra?
The two sides met in Spain’s second division, the Segunda División, in Tenerife on Sunday, 2 November. Deep into stoppage time, De Miguel chased a high ball in midfield. Owono had come well outside his area and struck him in the chest, Yahoo Sports reported, and the referee sent the goalkeeper off.
In his report the referee wrote that Owono went for the ball with his leg raised and hit his opponent with what the official considered excessive force, beIN Sports said. Neither club challenged those facts in the time allowed.
De Miguel, 30, suffered a cardiac arrest. He was taken off on a stretcher and died on Tuesday, 3 November, at the Hospital Universitario de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.
What did Owono say?
Through his club, Owono expressed his remorse and offered condolences to De Miguel’s family. “These are the most difficult days of my life,” he said.
Andorra coach Carles Manso said on Thursday that Owono was deeply affected and that the goalkeeper himself would decide when he feels ready to play again.
Is there a police investigation?
Yes. Spanish police opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, but prosecutors have said criminal proceedings are unlikely, according to Yahoo Sports. No charge has been brought.
Other bans from the same match
The committee also handed one-match bans to Andorra’s Efe Akman and Lautaro de León, assistant coach Antonio José Sánchez, and Tenerife’s Dani, beIN Sports reported.
Owono and Equatorial Guinea
Owono, who plays for Equatorial Guinea, has been their first-choice goalkeeper since his teens and played at the last three Africa Cup of Nations finals. He was not picked for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in this international break, Yahoo Sports reported.
No appeal against the 12-match ban has been reported so far.
