Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Nov 3 (EFE).- The death of CD Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel has plunged the island into mourning and prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the football world, as police investigate the circumstances surrounding his death in proceedings now under judicial supervision.
The Tenerife football community had been anxiously awaiting news since De Miguel was carried off on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to La Candelaria Hospital.
Initial reports offered some hope, saying the player was stable despite the severity of his condition.
But as the early hours of Tuesday passed, the news became increasingly worrying.
His neurological condition deteriorated, and his death was confirmed at around 8 a.m. He was 30.
Teammates, coaching staff, and club directors arrived at La Candelaria Hospital throughout the morning.
There, Tenerife’s majority shareholder, Rayco García, announced that De Miguel’s funeral would be held in Navahermosa, in the province of Toledo, once his body could be transferred to mainland Spain.
The club hoped the first team and board members would attend to pay their final respects.
It has also invited supporters and residents of Tenerife to a tribute at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium on Saturday.
«We are very, very hurt and Tenerife is in mourning. These are things that, sometimes, no matter how hard you try to understand them, are very difficult to accept,» García said.
Spontaneous tribute at the Heliodoro
Tributes have been taking place at various locations across the island, including the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium, where supporters have been laying flowers, lighting candles and leaving messages at Gate 8.
The usually bustling area around the stadium was unusually subdued, with young and old gradually joining the tribute.
Many were in tears, others struggled to find words, while most observed a respectful silence.
Tributes have also poured in on social media from athletes, clubs, and national and local political representatives.
The Tenerife Island Council has declared an official day of mourning. UEFA, meanwhile, has called for a minute’s silence at matches this week.
Judicial investigation
Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the footballer’s death following a violent collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono. The investigation is now under judicial supervision, police sources told EFE.
Sources at the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands explained that any death whose cause is not considered natural, whether resulting from an accident or another circumstance, automatically triggers the opening of judicial proceedings, as in this case.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui said it was «very difficult» for criminal proceedings to be brought over the player’s death, since the collision occurred during the course of a match.
He added that the Sports Disciplinary Committee’s findings would first need to be examined.
Speaking to EFE, Sánchez-Jáuregui referred to longstanding Supreme Court jurisprudence holding that injuries sustained during sporting activity are generally not punishable, except in cases such as an intentional assault by one player on another during a stoppage in play.
The prosecutor said the first step would be to examine the referee’s report and then await the Sports Disciplinary Committee’s decision.
In particular, he said, it would be necessary to establish whether the committee considered the play that led to the fatal injury dangerous or reckless, and whether it believed Owono had struck De Miguel with the intention of causing harm. EFE
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