FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has received a 12-match suspension from the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee for a challenge that resulted in the death of CD Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel. The 25-year-old Equatorial Guinea international was sent off during the closing stages of the second-tier match on 2 November after colliding with the Tenerife striker. The disciplinary panel confirmed that the sanction represents the maximum penalty available under current regulations, reflecting the severity of the incident and its fatal consequences.
Spanish FA imposes maximum sanction on Andorra keeper following tragic on-field incident.
The committee’s decision relied strictly on the referee’s official report, which documented Owono “violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play.” While the referee’s report focused on the technical foul and the immediate ejection, the disciplinary body explicitly acknowledged that the “tragic outcome of the incident, resulting in the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda, is public knowledge.” This distinction highlights the complex legal and regulatory framework governing football incidents that extend beyond standard match discipline.
In its final ruling, the panel stated that the “nature of the conduct described and the accompanying circumstances” necessitated the harshest possible punishment within their jurisdiction. By imposing the 12-game ban, the federation signaled that while the rules limit their punitive reach, the gravity of the act warranted the ceiling of their authority. This case underscores the ongoing debate regarding the adequacy of sporting sanctions in cases involving life-threatening injuries, as the disciplinary process remains separate from any potential criminal proceedings that may follow.
Source: BBC Sport
