Canary Striker Dies After Midfield Clash

Thirty-year-old striker Jesús de Miguel died after a collision during a match on Monday. The player suffered a severe impact to the face from Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono in the final minutes of the game. De Miguel was taken to Hospital Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria, where he later died.

The Spanish National Police have opened an investigation into the death. A provincial police source confirmed to EFE that the case is now under judicial supervision. The Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands noted that any death without a natural cause automatically triggers a judicial inquiry. This procedure applies to accidents and other non-natural causes of death.

Chief Prosecutor José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui of Santa Cruz de Tenerife told EFE that a criminal trial is currently "very difficult." He explained that the impact occurred during active play, not during a stoppage. Supreme Court doctrine generally holds that sports injuries are not punishable unless a player deliberately attacks another while the game is paused.

Prosecutors must wait for the sports disciplinary committee to rule on the incident. The committee will review the referee's report to determine if the play was classified as dangerous or very dangerous. They will also assess whether Owono intended to cause harm. These findings will dictate how the case proceeds.

If the family disagrees with the committee's conclusion, they can file a complaint for alleged assault resulting in death. This would launch a new investigation. Sánchez-Jáuregui stated that such a case would likely be classified as homicide by less serious negligence. He compared the situation to a shove that causes a fall and a broken neck, where there is no explicit intent to kill.

The police are currently investigating the goalkeeper's intent in the specific play. The outcome depends on the official records and the disciplinary board's assessment of the collision. The case remains under active review by judicial authorities in Tenerife.