Equatorial Guinean goalkeeper Jesús Owono, 25, has been suspended for 12 matches by the disciplinary committee of the Spanish federation, following the collision with Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, who died the following day.
The disciplinary committee of the Spanish football federation has handed a twelve-match suspension to FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, according to Khaleej Times, following the collision with Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel during the Spanish second-division match on 2 November. Taken to intensive care, the Tenerife player died the following day.
The Equatorial Guinean international goalkeeper has not yet decided whether he will return to competition. FC Andorra coach Carles Manso indicated on Thursday that the club would give him time and space to make up his mind.
Twelve matches, the maximum provided for
The committee relied on article 102 of the RFEF disciplinary code, which punishes violent conduct against an opponent that has caused serious injury. It upheld the classification as a serious infringement and imposed “the maximum sanction with the associated fines”, according to the same source.
To justify its decision, the body relied on the referee’s description, which reported an action of particular gravity, with a raised leg, and an impact of excessive force. “The referee’s own description makes it possible to assess the particular gravity of the action, both through the manner in which it was carried out, with the leg raised, and through the force of the impact, which the referee expressly described as excessive,” the committee wrote, as quoted by Khaleej Times.
The committee also recalled that the tragic outcome is not disputed: “It is a matter of public knowledge that the tragic outcome of the events was the death of Jesús de Miguel Alameda.”
Owono absent from the national team
The consequences of the tragedy went beyond the borders of the Spanish championship. Owono withdrew from the Equatorial Guinea national team for the AFCON qualifiers against Zimbabwe after the death of Jesús de Miguel.
The Equatorial Guinean federation expressed its “deep sadness”. On the Andorran side, Carles Manso only confirmed that his goalkeeper had not yet decided whether he would return to competition.
A return still up in the air
The player’s decision on his sporting future is expected in the coming days, according to Khaleej Times.
Equatorial Guinea will have to face Zimbabwe without their goalkeeper in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.