Owono family facing abuse after Tenerife player’s death, says Equatorial Guinea team official

The family of Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono is struggling to cope after his challenge led to the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, according to Equatorial Guinea national team general coordinator Ana Mayi.

De Miguel, aged 30, died several hours after suffering serious injuries in the incident during a Spanish second-tier match. Owono was sent off after colliding with an opponent while challenging for the ball.

“Whatever has been said to Jesus Owono, he is feeling enormous sadness,” Mayi told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo. “He is deeply affected, especially because of Jesus de Miguel’s one-and-a-half-year-old child and his widow. He does not know how to deal with all of this.”

Mayi said the goalkeeper’s family had also been subjected to abuse since the incident.

“His younger brother is being harassed. People call his older brother a murderer,” she said. “He has been reprimanded by his team, has received insults and is being sworn at. It is extremely harsh.

“His sister, who studies at the University of Valencia, is also suffering because of what is happening. They do not deserve this.”

She added that Owono’s family was grieving too, although in different circumstances from De Miguel’s relatives.

“They are also mourning, but in a different way,” Mayi said. “The deceased’s family have lost someone very dear to them and that weighs heavily on them. They will have to live with what happened for the rest of their lives.

“But the life of the Owono family has also changed for ever and they do not deserve to be destroyed in this way.”

Mayi appealed for privacy and support for the goalkeeper.

“They have two other young children and parents at home. They are suffering too,” she said. “Owono needs time, help and calm so that he can process what has happened.”

Owono, speaking in a statement issued through Andorra, said: “These are the hardest days of my life. I am struggling to find the words and it is extremely difficult for me to take in everything that has happened.

“I feel immense pain because of Jesus’ death. I am thinking about him, his family and everyone who loved him.

“I know there is a great deal to deal with and I will face what comes with the utmost respect. But at this moment, honestly, I cannot think of anything other than Jesus and the pain we are experiencing.”

La Liga announced that Tenerife’s match against Granada and Andorra’s fixture against Real Mallorca had been postponed following De Miguel’s death.

The Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee has also delayed a decision on any punishment for Owono. Both clubs have been given time to submit their written arguments. The referee’s report stated that the red card followed a forceful raised-foot collision with an opponent while competing for the ball.

The next round of matches will go ahead as scheduled, despite the Spanish players’ union calling for it to be postponed.

A tribute to De Miguel will take place at every stadium. Starting players will wear shirts bearing his number nine and the words “Always in our memory”, followed by a minute’s silence and an image of the player on stadium screens.

Matches will stop at the first break in play after the ninth minute for a tribute video. Before kick-off, players and officials will form a semi-circle with their arms around one another, while a bouquet of flowers will be placed in De Miguel’s memory.