Valverde’s wife calls for an end to online abuse after fatal Tenerife-Andorra collision

Mina Bonino, the wife of Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, has urged people to stop attacking Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Aono after the death of Tenerife player Jesus de Miguel.

De Miguel, aged 30, died after a heavy collision with Aono during the match between Tenerife and Andorra. The goalkeeper was sent off following the incident and has since faced a wave of abuse and accusations on social media.

Bonino said Aono had made a reckless decision, but stressed that he had not intended to kill his opponent.

Writing on her Instagram story, the Argentine journalist said: “I think it is essential that we stop. What happened is a tragedy. I do not even want to imagine how much the player’s family, his daughter, his parents and his wife are suffering. There is no consolation or words that can ease their pain at this moment.”

She added: “Unfortunately, we were not able to prevent his death, but as a society we can take responsibility to avoid another tragedy.”

‘Aono is not a murderer’

Bonino directly addressed the criticism aimed at the goalkeeper, acknowledging the consequences of his error while rejecting the description of him as a killer.

“Aono will suffer throughout his life because he made a mistake,” she wrote. “It was a reckless decision that cost his fellow player his life, and it may also destroy his own life, but he is not a murderer. We are not in a position to judge someone who had no intention of killing.”

She continued: “He will serve the punishment imposed on him and will carry a social condemnation that may affect him for the rest of his life, but we still have time to stop and prevent another death.”

The goalkeeper’s challenge and the player’s death have caused widespread shock in Spanish football. Aono’s red card was followed by sustained online attacks linked to the incident.

Warning over social-media hatred

Bonino’s message also criticised what she described as a culture of collective condemnation on social-media platforms. She argued that spaces designed to connect people had instead become places where users appointed themselves judges and issued permanent verdicts on others.

“We live in a society full of hatred,” she said. “Instead of social media being a window through which we can get to know people, it has become the worst place in the world, where everyone has become a judge who condemns you forever.”

She ended with a warning about the possible consequences of online bullying.

“Then we cry when someone takes their own life, but changing this reality is still in our hands,” Bonino said.