Jesus Owono says he is experiencing the most difficult days of his life

FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has described his current emotional state as one of the most challenging periods of his life following the tragic death of Tenerife forward Jesus De Miguel. The incident occurred during a Spanish second division match, where Owono collided with De Miguel, leading to the latter suffering a cardiac arrest after being taken to intensive care, where he later died.

Owono expressed his struggle to process the event in a statement, emphasising his focus on the pain felt by De Miguel's family and friends. He stated that he would address any questions with respect but is currently overwhelmed by grief. Following the incident, Owono deactivated his Instagram account due to receiving online abuse.

In response to the tragedy, FC Andorra has offered psychological support to its players. Teammate Lautaro Spatz publicly defended Owono, highlighting his character and the unintentional nature of the incident. Spatz acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and extended condolences to De Miguel's family, noting the unexpected consequences of such incidents in football.

The Equatoguinean Football Federation has also shown support for Owono, recognising the profound sorrow he is experiencing. Meanwhile, Spanish national police have initiated a routine investigation into De Miguel's death. Fans at Tenerife's Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium have paid tribute to the late player, and the club has declared six days of mourning.

In a show of solidarity, domestic Spanish games were postponed, while Champions League matches continued with a minute's silence observed before kick-off. Clubs, including Arsenal, have expressed their condolences, with manager Mikel Arteta describing the situation as heartbreaking and reflecting on the devastating impact of the incident on the football community.

via Sky Sports