Jesus Owono banned for 12 games after fatal challenge on Jesus de Miguel

FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has been suspended for 12 matches by the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee following his challenge on Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel during a Spanish second-tier match on November 2. De Miguel died the following day.

The committee imposed the maximum sanction available under Article 102 of the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary code for violent conduct against an opponent during play that causes serious injury, along with associated fines under Article 52.

The incident and the referee’s report

Owono, 25, was sent off after colliding with De Miguel during the closing stages of the match between FC Andorra and Tenerife.

” The committee said the referee’s description made it possible to appreciate the particular seriousness of the action, both because of the way it was carried out, with the leg raised, and because of the forcefulness of the impact, which the referee expressly described as excessive.

It added that “the tragic outcome of the events was the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda,” and that this public knowledge justified imposing the sanction at its maximum level.

Match abandoned, result stands

The match was abandoned seven minutes into stoppage time when the incident occurred, with the teams drawing 2-2. The federation decided the game will not be replayed, saying this avoids having to resume play from the precise moment at which the tragic incident occurred. A federation committee stated that letting the 2-2 result stand was the “most respectful course of action, given the extraordinary and tragic circumstances of this case.”

Owono’s future and international duty

Owono withdrew from Equatorial Guinea’s squad for its Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe this month following De Miguel’s death.

FC Andorra manager Carles Manso said on Thursday that Owono is yet to decide whether he will return to competition, adding that the club would give the goalkeeper time and space to make that decision.

Manso said Owono is currently spending time with his family and is “completely free to make any decision” with regard to a potential return, whether he wants to return, when, or if he does not want to return.

Owono said last week that he was living through “the most difficult days of my life,” while the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation said he was experiencing profound sorrow and grief. A separate judicial inquiry into the incident continues.

Sources

• India Today

• Sportstar