Jesus Owono, the goalkeeper for Spanish second-tier club Andorra, is living through the most difficult days of his professional career following a fatal on-field collision against Tenerife on Monday.
A Fatal Clash on the Pitch
Owono sprinted toward the center of the pitch to clear a long, dangerous ball during Monday’s match, colliding heavily with Jesus de Miguel. De Miguel passed away the following day in the hospital due to cardiac arrest at just 30 years of age.
Spanish Police Launch Manslaughter Investigation
Spanish police have launched an investigation into potential manslaughter, according to the Associated Press. From a sporting perspective, Marca reported that the expelled goalkeeper could face a 12-match suspension.
Goalkeeper Faces Potential Prison Sentence
On the legal front outside of football, Owono could face a prison sentence if authorities determine his challenge constituted gross negligence resulting in death, which falls under the category of manslaughter. Legal evaluations will examine whether the goalkeeper breached required sporting precautions, whether the tragic outcome was objectively foreseeable and avoidable, and if a direct causal and legal link exists between the goalkeeper’s actions and the player’s death.
Shocked Goalkeeper Deactivates Social Media Accounts
Sport reported that Owono is in a state of complete shock. He initially planned to call the family of the late De Miguel on Monday, but upon hearing the tragic news, he decided against the contact. He subsequently deactivated all of his social media accounts, anticipating a barrage of abusive messages from sections of the Spanish public.
Futsal Player Faces Harassment Through Mistaken Identity
The abuse quickly spilled over to an unintended target sharing the same surname. Michel Owono, a goalkeeper for the amateur Spanish futsal club 1K FC who shares no relation to Jesus Owono, received a wave of online harassment due to mistaken identity.
“I want to express my deepest condolences regarding the death of De Miguel after a heavy challenge,” Michel Owono wrote on social media. “However, I must emphasize that I am not Jesus Owono and I have nothing to do with what happened. You confused me because of my surname, which is why I received a large number of hate messages, threats, and racist insults that I strictly condemn. Respect, empathy, and humanity must prevail above all. Hate, harassment, and discrimination have no place anywhere, neither in sport nor in life.”
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