Jesus Owono has become a global figure overnight after the goalkeeper’s challenge led to the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.
asserted
challenge → become → Miguel
The 30-year-old died in hospital in Santa Cruz on Tuesday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest in the wake of a high challenge by Andorra goalkeeper Owono in stoppage time of Monday’s La Liga 2 game.
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old → die → game
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Owono received a straight red card for his challenge and has since received criticism from around the world for his part in the tragedy while local police are reported to have begun an investigation into the incident,
asserted
police → know → incident
The 25-year-old goalkeeper was born in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, but moved to Spain’s Basque Country as a child.
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goalkeeper → bear → child
His first club was Antiguoko, a youth club in San Sebastian, at the age of eight, but after moving on to Real Sociedad, he played for the Basque Country’s representative side at under-16 level.
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he → move → level
He joined Alaves in 2017 and worked his way through the youth ranks before making his first-team debut in a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad in January 2022, becoming the first international born in his country to appear in La Liga.
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He → join → Liga
He went on to make 20 appearances in the league and Copa del Rey but spent last season on loan with La Liga 2 side Andorra, keeping six clean sheets in 20 league games before earning a permanent move in August and signing a two-year deal.
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He → go → deal
Owono made his Equatorial Guinea debut shortly after turning 18 in March 2019 and has gone on to represent his country 46 times, playing every minute of their three group games in the 2025 AFCON edition and both their AFCON 2027 qualifiers against DR Congo and Sierra Leone in September.
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Owono → make → September
How did Owono react to the collision?
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Owono → react → collision
After colliding with De Miguel in the centre circle, Owono did not turn back to look at his opponent on the ground but immediately began walking towards the touchline, anticipating the red card which Manuel Angel Perez Hernandez swiftly brandished.
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Hernandez → collide → which
However, as he walked off, after exchanging a handshake with teammate Nacho Quintana, he turned back as medical staff were beckoned frantically onto the pitch and jogged to join players surrounding De Miguel as he lay prostrate on the turf.
asserted
he → walk → turf
He remained on the field until he was led away by club officials and down the tunnel at the same time that De Miguel was being rushed off the field at the opposite end of the stadium on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance, with videos posted online showing Tenerife fans in the stands chanting ‘assassin’ at Owono for his part in the incident.
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fans → remain → incident
Why has Owono received online abuse?
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Owono → receive → abuse
The reaction to Owono’s challenge on De Miguel is that it was widely considered reckless and using excessive force.
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it → consider → force
The keeper was standing well outside his area as 10-man Andorra piled on late pressure, seeking to complete an unlikely comeback from 2-0 down with just seven minutes of normal time remaining.
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Andorra → stand → time
When the ball was cleared by Tenerife from the edge of their own box in the air towards the halfway line, De Miguel looked favourite to have a clear run on goal, leading Owono to sprint forward and jump to challenge him in the air before the ball bounced, with his knee appearing to strike De Miguel in the chest and head.
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knee → clear → chest
Some social media users have called for a life ban from football and criminal charges to be filed against Owono, while others have flooded his own profile with racist abuse, insults and comments of “murderer”.
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others → call → murderer
Could Spanish football authorities punish Owono?
uncertain
authorities → punish → Owono
Yes, and they almost certainly will.
The Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Code suggests a suspension of four to 12 matches for players found to have committed violent conduct during play, resulting in serious injury.
uncertain
Code → suggest → injury
An investigation into the events surrounding De Miguel’s death will assess the challenge and the context in which it was made before determining the punishment.
Can a footballer be charged with negligent manslaughter?
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footballer → surround → manslaughter
While a severe sporting punishment seems inevitable, many football fans are suggesting that criminal charges should also follow.
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charges → seem → ?
Reports in the local media in Tenerife on Tuesday afternoon say The Homicide Group of the National Police in Santa Cruz is already investigating the circumstances of De Miguel’s death.
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Group → say → death
The death of a player due to an act on the field in the midst of a match is, thankfully, incredibly rare, and there are no precedents established in a tragic case like this.
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death → be → this
The question of charges is likely to be determined by whether Owono’s challenge meets the threshold of criminal negligence.
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challenge → determine → negligence
Article 142 of the Spanish Penal Code distinguishes between manslaughter due to gross negligence and manslaughter due to less serious negligence.
asserted
Article → distinguish → negligence
Gross negligence, if proven, can carry a prison sentence of up to four years, while the lesser charge carries a fine calculated over three to 18 months.
asserted
charge → prove → months
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