Goalkeeper in fatal match incident gets maximum punishment and may never return

Owono receives 12-match ban, the maximum available, after the collision that killed Tenerife striker De Miguel on November 2; his future in football remains uncertain.

Jesus Owono, the FC Andorra goalkeeper, has been handed a 12-match suspension by the Royal Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee following the fatal collision with Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel on November 2. The ban represents the maximum punishment available under Article 102 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code, which covers violent actions causing serious injury. Referee Manuel Angel Perez Hernandez reported that Owono was dismissed for "making a violent impact with his leg raised high on an opponent with excessive force while the ball was in play."

De Miguel, 30, suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest on the pitch and died the following morning from accidental chest trauma, according to a preliminary autopsy. The tragedy sent shockwaves through Spanish football. Owono issued an emotional statement expressing his pain and respect for De Miguel's family, and subsequently deactivated his social media accounts after receiving abuse. It remains unclear whether the 24-year-old will return to football.

FC, former Andorra head coach Carles Manso said the club will not pressure Owono to play and will give him space to decide his future. Teammate Lautaro Spatz defended Owono, describing him as someone who would never have intended to harm anyone. Meanwhile, Tenerife have pledged financial support for De Miguel's daughter until adulthood.