What We Know About Owono's 12-Match Ban After De Miguel's Death

Spain's football federation suspended FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono for 12 matches on Friday, Nov. 14, 2026, after a collision he caused on the field led to the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, according to Al Jazeera.

What happened during the November 2 collision?

Owono raced out of his box to clear an aerial ball during a Spanish second-division match between FC Andorra and Tenerife on Nov. 2, 2026, and collided with De Miguel, per the referee's report cited by Al Jazeera. The referee sent Owono off on the spot. De Miguel, 30, was taken to intensive care after the collision and died the following day, Nov. 3, 2026, according to the same report.

Why did the disciplinary committee impose the maximum 12 matches?

The Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee based its ruling on the referee's written report, which described Owono's action as "violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play," the committee said in a statement reported by Al Jazeera. The committee added that "the tragic outcome of the incident, resulting in the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda, is public knowledge," and concluded that "the maximum sanction, 12 matches of suspension, is justified" given the conduct and surrounding circumstances.

Is there a separate criminal investigation?

Yes. Spanish police sources told AFP, as relayed by Al Jazeera, that a judicially supervised investigation into the incident was opened in the days after De Miguel's death. No findings from that probe have been made public as of Nov. 14, 2026.

What has Owono said since the incident?

Owono, 25, called the aftermath "the hardest days of my life" in a statement published by FC Andorra and cited by Al Jazeera. "I struggle to find the words, and it is very difficult for me to process anything that has happened," he said, adding, "I feel immense pain over the loss of Jesus. I think of him, of his family, and of all the people who loved him." He closed the statement with, "Rest in peace, Jesus."

What happens next for Owono and FC Andorra?

Owono withdrew from Equatorial Guinea's national squad ahead of this month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe, Al Jazeera reported. FC Andorra coach Carles Manso said on Thursday, Nov. 13, that Owono himself will decide if and when he returns to football, and that the club will give him "time and space" before any decision, according to the Al Jazeera report.

Glossary

• Disciplinary committee: The Spanish football federation body that reviews referee reports and issues sanctions for on-field conduct, independent of any police or judicial inquiry.
• Red card / sending-off: An immediate ejection from the match, issued here for what the referee's report classified as excessive-force contact.
• Judicial supervision: A police investigation opened under the oversight of a Spanish court, running separately from the football federation's disciplinary process.

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