Spanish Police Probe Soccer Death

Spanish authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the death of a professional soccer player following a mid-air collision on the pitch. The National Police and prosecutors are examining the incident for possible involuntary manslaughter. The inquiry centers on the physical impact that caused a cardiac arrest for the victim during a second-division league match.

Jesús de Miguel, a 30-year-old forward for CD Tenerife, died Tuesday after suffering cardiac arrest from the collision. He was challenging for a long ball near midfield on Monday when he was struck in the chest by Jesús Owono, the goalkeeper for FC Andorra. Owono had rushed out of his penalty area all the way to midfield to claim the ball. The Andorra keeper was shown a straight red card for the heavy impact.

The 3-1 tied match was abandoned immediately after the incident. De Miguel was transported to a hospital but did not survive. He was a native of Madrid who made his professional debut in 2015 with Leganés B before joining Tenerife last year. The club, based on Spain's Canary Islands, described the loss as heart-breaking in a statement released Tuesday.

The club statement noted that there are no words of comfort for the player's family. It expressed support for the Tenerife community and the player's loved ones. FC Andorra, which is owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique, also issued a statement extending its deepest condolences. The club asked that the deceased rest in peace.

The Spanish soccer federation postponed three cup matches scheduled for Tuesday in honor of the victim. Two Copa del Rey games and one Copa de la Reina match were moved to later dates. Top-flight clubs also observed the loss. Real Madrid players held a minute of silence during training, and Espanyol postponed the presentation of its new head coach.

Kylian Mbappé, a forward for Real Madrid, shared a message of sadness on social media, stating there are no words. Manchester United and Liverpool also posted tributes online. This death follows a similar incident in Spain last year when a 19-year-old goalkeeper died from head injuries sustained in a fifth-division collision.