Jesús Owono banned for 12 matches over challenge that led to Jesús de Miguel's death
The FC Andorra goalkeeper has been given the maximum suspension by the Spanish federation, which has also ruled that the 2-2 scoreline against Tenerife will stand.
FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono has been suspended for 12 matches by the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee after his challenge led to the death of Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel. The ruling, the maximum available sanction, was handed down on Friday.
What happened on the pitch
Owono was sent off in a Segunda División match on 2 November. The Guardian and Al Jazeera report that he raced into midfield and collided with De Miguel while trying to clear an aerial ball.
De Miguel, 30, was placed in intensive care in hospital and died on 3 November, the day after the collision.
The committee's decision
The committee said its assessment had to rest on the facts recorded in the referee's report. That report said Owono was sent off for violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play.
"The tragic outcome of the incident, resulting in the death of Jesús de Miguel, is public knowledge."
The committee said the maximum sanction was justified given the nature of the conduct and the circumstances. The federation also ruled that the 2-2 scoreline will stand, with the game abandoned seven minutes into stoppage time, according to Sky Sports. It said this avoided restarting play from the moment of the incident, which it called "the most respectful course of action".
Investigation and reaction
Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, which Sky Sports says is standard practice under Spanish law. Police sources told AFP last week that the inquiry was opened under judicial supervision, according to Al Jazeera.
In a statement published by his club last week, Owono said these were "the hardest days of my life" and that he would "face whatever comes with the utmost respect".
Andorra head coach Carles Manso said on Thursday that Owono will decide if and when he returns to football, and that the club will give him time and space to make that decision. Owono, 25, also withdrew from the Equatorial Guinea squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe this month, Al Jazeera reports.
Tenerife fans and players gathered at the club's stadium last Saturday for a memorial and farewell to De Miguel. The Guardian reports that around 400 mourners attended his funeral, including Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.
