Spanish footballer dies after on-field collision

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Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter after a football player died following an on-field collision with the opposing team's goalkeeper in a second-division match.

Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel died after he suffered cardiac arrest following the on-field collision, his club said late on Tuesday night (AEDT). He was 30.

De Miguel was challenging for the ball near midfield on Monday when he was struck in the chest by FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, who came running from the opposite direction in an apparent attempt to make a clearance. Owono was shown a straight red card for the incident, which happened in added time.

Spain's national police said on Tuesday, local time, that they had opened an investigation. Under Spanish law, deaths from non-natural causes, including accidents, are subject to judicial investigation.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui told Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were unlikely, noting that the collision occurred during play.

De Miguel was taken to a hospital and the match, tied 2-2, was abandoned after the incident.

The club, based in Spain's Canary Islands, said it was "heartbroken."

Tenerife's largest shareholder Rayco García told reporters that De Miguel's body would be transported to Navahermosa, in the Toledo province, at the request of his family. He said De Miguel's teammates and club officials would be present for a "final farewell."

On Saturday, fans will gather at the team's stadium to honour the player, García said.

"We will all join forces and get through this together," García said.

Club president Felipe Miñambres said players and their families would likely need help to cope with De Miguel's death.

"We will need professional help and the help of all of our fans," he said. "They will be feeling the same way that we are feeling today."

The club has asked to postpone its league game at Granada this weekend.

The heavy collision happened when Owono rushed out of his area all the way to midfield to challenge for a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.

De Miguel initially curled on his knees, clutching his torso for a few seconds, before he fell over onto his back, with his arms falling to his sides.

Owono was walking off the field after being shown the red card but turned around and joined the other players rushing to check on De Miguel.

Another player with the same last name of Owono, Michel Owono, who plays for sixth-division Spanish club Can Vidalet, denounced a wave of racist insults against him by people thinking he was the Andorra goalkeeper.

De Miguel, a Madrid native, began his senior career with Leganés B in 2015 and later played for several lower-division clubs in Spain. He joined Tenerife last year.

No local media reported that De Miguel had a pre-existing health condition. The precise medical cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Spanish media said De Miguel is survived by his wife and their daughter.

"There are no words of comfort," the club statement read. "There is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow. We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire Tenerife community."

Tributes poured out for De Miguel after news of his death broke. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Gerard Piqué, the owner of Andorra, all extended their condolences, while Real Madrid, Manchester United and Liverpool also paid tribute.

The Spanish football federation postponed all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. UEFA said it would observe a moment of silence at all its matches this week.

Life-threatening injuries from collisions in football are extremely rare.

Last year in Spain, a 19-year-old goalkeeper died from head injuries suffered during a collision in a fifth-division match. Colindres goalkeeper Raúl Ramírez had two cardio-respiratory arrests, one on the field and then in the ambulance while being transported to a hospital. He was declared brain dead two days later.

In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun died from head injuries sustained in a collision during a match while playing for CSKA Moscow.

Malaga goalkeeper José Antonio Gallardo died in January 1987, more than three weeks after a collision with Celta Vigo forward Baltazar in a second-division game.