Tenerife commit to financially supporting Jesus de Miguel’s daughter until she turns 18

Thousands gathered at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, for a tearful tribute to Jesús de Miguel, who died after a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a second-division match on Monday, November 1, 2026. His teammates returned to the stadium dressed in all black, with a banner reading "Eterno Demi 9" honoring his jersey number. Captain Enric Gallego delivered an emotional farewell speech, promising that de Miguel's 18-month-old daughter, Carla, would grow up knowing what her father meant to the community. The club has pledged to financially support Carla until she turns 18, a commitment echoed by The New York Times and ESPN in their coverage. The tribute brought together football clubs across the Canary Islands, with Ultra Naciente from UD Las Palmas placing a wreath on the pitch. Spanish players' union AFE unanimously favored postponing fixtures due to players' emotional distress, but the federation's competition judge ruled the request inadmissible, allowing only three Segunda fixtures and a women's match to be postponed. The Spanish football federation organized commemorative shirts, floral offerings, and pre-match silences to honor de Miguel. Criminal proceedings over the collision seem unlikely, according to Santa Cruz de Tenerife's chief prosecutor, who cited the distinction between injuries during sporting play and deliberate aggression. The disciplinary committee has deferred its decision on goalkeeper Owono, with potential suspension of up to 12 matches. Spanish football expert Albert Ortega emphasized that prevention requires written protocols, independent reviews, regular emergency drills, and coordinated stadium responses, noting that protection also requires a bereavement procedure agreed with players. AFE president David Aganzo renewed calls for medical professionals and ambulances across all national categories, referencing the fatal injury of Colindres goalkeeper Raul Ramirez in the Spanish fifth division last September, where a defibrillator existed but no doctor or ambulance was on site. De Miguel's death has raised questions about Spanish football authorities' response to players' requests for grieving periods, with Ortega cautioning against assuming commercial interests alone explained the decision to continue fixtures. The clash occurred during a second division professional football match, but questions remain about procedures in lower division games where medical response provisions predate this tragedy.