FC Andorra defender Lautaro Spatz has spoken of the profound impact on teammate Jesús Owono following the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel.
Owono collided with De Miguel during Monday’s second-division match. The 30-year-old Tenerife player died in hospital on Tuesday morning.
Spatz, who was on the pitch at the time, posted on Instagram: “The entire FC Andorra squad has been in shock, devastated and deeply affected by what has happened. It is a tragedy that we could never have imagined experiencing on a football pitch.
“I would also like to say a few words about my teammate, goalkeeper and friend, who is deeply affected by what has happened. Those of us who know him are aware of the sort of person he is, how much he is suffering at this time, and that he would never have intended to harm anyone. In football, there are accidental incidents, but no one could have imagined that one of them could lead to such tragic consequences.”
Spanish police confirmed an investigation has been opened, as required under Spanish law for any death from non-natural causes.
Owono, a 25-year-old Equatorial Guinea international, faced a wave of racist abuse online before his Instagram account was deactivated. Among those urging restraint was Mina Bonino, wife of Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde, who told her followers that while Owono would carry the burden of the incident for life, he was “no murderer” and that society should avoid further tragedy through responsible reaction.