FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has been suspended for 12 matches by the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee. The ruling was announced on Friday and follows a challenge on Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel that resulted in the player’s death last week.
The committee’s decision is the heaviest sanction available for the conduct under review. It said the case had to be judged on the facts recorded in the referee’s report.
Referee’s report cited in sending-off case
Owono was sent off in a second-division match on November 2. He had raced into midfield and collided with De Miguel while trying to clear an aerial ball, according to the reports.
De Miguel, 30, was placed in intensive care in hospital after the collision. He died on November 3.
The committee said the referee had recorded that Owono was dismissed for “violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play.” It described the outcome as a matter of public knowledge and said that, given the conduct and surrounding circumstances, the maximum sanction was justified.
Spanish police sources said last week that an investigation into what happened had been opened under judicial supervision.
Owono speaks after withdrawing from national squad
Owono, who plays for Equatorial Guinea, said he was going through the “hardest days of my life”. In a statement published by Andorra last week, he said he struggled to find words and found it very difficult to process what had happened.
“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 said. He added that he would face whatever came next with the utmost respect.
The 25-year-old withdrew from Equatorial Guinea’s squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe this month. Andorra coach Carles Manso said on Thursday that Owono would decide if and when he returns to football, and that the club would give him time and space to make that choice.
Tenerife mourns with memorial and funeral
Tenerife fans and players gathered at the club’s stadium on Saturday for a memorial and farewell to De Miguel.
His funeral took place last Thursday. About 400 mourners attended, including Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
