Tenerife footballer Jesus de Miguel dies after on-field collision at 30

Barcelona: Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel has died after suffering cardiac arrest following an on-field collision during a Spanish second-division match, his club said on Tuesday. He was 30.

De Miguel was challenging for the ball near midfield on Monday when he was struck in the chest by the onrushing Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during added time.

Owono was shown a straight red card for the incident.

De Miguel was taken to hospital, and the match, which was tied 2-2, was abandoned following the incident.

Tenerife said in a statement to Spanish media late on Monday that De Miguel had suffered cardiac arrest but that his pulse was restored in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. However, the club later said his condition had “worsened neurologically” and subsequently announced that he had died at 8 am.

The club, based in Spain’s Canary Islands, said it was “heartbroken”. De Miguel, a Madrid native, made his professional debut in 2015 with Leganes B and subsequently played for several lower-division clubs in Spain. He joined Tenerife last year.

“There are no words of comfort,” the club’s statement read. “There is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow. We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire Tenerife community.”

The collision occurred when Owono rushed out of his area and all the way to midfield to challenge for a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.

De Miguel initially curled up on his knees, clutching his torso for a few seconds, before falling backwards onto the ground, with his arms dropping to his sides.

Owono was walking off the field after being shown the red card but turned around and joined the other players who rushed to check on De Miguel.

Andorra, which is owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique, also offered its condolences, along with other clubs, the Spanish football federation and La Liga.

“We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesus de Miguel, to all his colleagues and friends, and to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace,” Andorra said in a statement.

Real Madrid players observed a minute’s silence for De Miguel during training, while fellow top-flight club Espanyol postponed the presentation of its new coach.

English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool also offered their condolences on social media.

The Spanish football federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina match scheduled for later on Tuesday.

Life-threatening injuries resulting from collisions in football are extremely rare.

Last year in Spain, a 19-year-old goalkeeper died from head injuries suffered during a collision in a fifth-division match. Colindres goalkeeper Raul Ramirez suffered two cardiorespiratory arrests, one on the field and another in the ambulance while being transported to hospital. He was declared brain dead two days later.

In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun was playing for CSKA Moscow when he died from head injuries sustained in a collision during a match.