Learning from tragedy

Opinion piece reflecting on Jesús de Miguel's death and calling for football to learn from the tragedy through protocol reviews and cultural change.

Following the death of Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel this week, this article argues that football must use the tragedy as a catalyst for meaningful change rather than simply observing moments of silence.

The piece criticizes the racist abuse directed at Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono on social media in the aftermath, calling it shameful and questioning whether such vitriol would occur if the goalkeeper were white and Spanish. It also reproaches media outlets for sensationalism, clickbait coverage, and inappropriate imagery during the tragedy.

The author identifies three areas requiring urgent reflection: the common practice of goalkeepers jumping with their knees forward for protection, which is taught from youth level; medical protocols and emergency response procedures at stadiums; and whether adequate medical resources were available and deployed quickly enough at the Heliodoro. The article draws parallels to Formula 1's safety reforms after Ayrton Senna's death, cycling's mandatory helmet rule following fatalities, and football's medical protocol reviews after Marc-Vivien Foé's sudden death, arguing that tragedy should prompt preventive action rather than merely reactive change.