Jesús Owono is reportedly under investigation by Spanish police following the death of Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, who suffered a cardiac arrest after a collision with the goalkeeper during a Spanish second-division match. Police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Spain's National Police confirmed on Tuesday that an investigation had been launched, with prosecutors also expected to be involved in the case. However, Owono has not been convicted of any offence, and the investigation will determine whether his actions during the match could have criminal consequences.

The incident occurred during a match between FC Andorra and CD Tenerife on November 1. Owono, who was playing for Andorra, rushed out of his penalty area towards midfield to challenge for a long ball that De Miguel was attempting to reach.

During added time, the goalkeeper collided heavily with the Tenerife forward, striking him in the chest. Owono was shown a straight red card for the challenge. De Miguel initially dropped to his knees and clutched his torso for a few seconds before falling onto his back. His arms fell to his sides as players from both teams rushed to check on him.

Owono, who was walking off the pitch after receiving the red card, turned around and joined the other players in checking on the injured forward.

De Miguel was subsequently taken for medical treatment but died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

What charges could Jesús Owono face?

Apart from the sporting disciplinary action, Owono could potentially face criminal proceedings depending on the findings of the police investigation.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Code provides for different punishments depending on the seriousness of an incident and the consequences of a player's actions.

Article 102 of the code provides for a suspension of between four and 12 matches when a footballer acts violently against an opponent during play and causes serious injuries or harmful consequences.

This provision could be considered when examining Owono's challenge. However, the final decision will rest with the relevant disciplinary authorities, which will assess the circumstances surrounding the collision.

A suspension of eight, 10 or 12 matches would fall within the punishment range specified under the article. However, the code does not prescribe an automatic suspension simply because an opponent dies following an incident during a match.

The disciplinary authorities will have to examine the nature of the challenge and the circumstances before determining the appropriate punishment.

Could Jesús Owono face an involuntary manslaughter charge?

The investigation could also examine whether Owono's actions amount to a criminal offence under Spanish law.

According to Marca, Article 142 of the Spanish Criminal Code distinguishes between manslaughter caused by gross negligence and manslaughter caused by less serious negligence.

Under Article 142, manslaughter by gross negligence carries a prison sentence of one to four years. Manslaughter by less serious negligence can result in a fine ranging from three to 18 months.

However, these provisions do not mean that Owono will automatically face either charge or be convicted.

For criminal proceedings to succeed, investigators would need to establish whether the goalkeeper's conduct amounted to criminally relevant negligence. This would involve examining whether he breached the duty of care expected during a sporting contest, whether the outcome was reasonably foreseeable and avoidable, and whether a legally sufficient causal link existed between his actions and De Miguel's death.

The fact that the incident happened during a football match does not automatically exclude criminal liability. At the same time, a fatal outcome alone is not sufficient to establish a criminal offence.

The investigation will therefore be crucial in determining whether the incident warrants criminal proceedings beyond the sporting disciplinary action.

Who is Jesús Owono?

Jesús Owono is an Equatorial Guinean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for FC Andorra in Spain's Segunda División.

Born on March 1, 2001, in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, Owono moved to Spain during his childhood and developed his football career through several Spanish clubs.

He began his football journey with youth and development stints at Real Sociedad, Deportivo Alavés and Club San Ignacio.

Owono made his La Liga debut for Deportivo Alavés on January 2, 2022. He subsequently made approximately 20 appearances for the club before moving to FC Andorra in July 2025.

He initially joined Andorra on loan before signing a two-year contract with an option to extend for another two years.

Apart from his club career, Owono has also represented the Equatorial Guinea national football team. He made his international debut on March 25, 2019, in a match against Saudi Arabia.