Spanish football club Tenerife have pledged to provide financial support to the one-year-old daughter of striker Jesus de Miguel following his tragic death at the age of 30.
The club confirmed that it intends to stand by the late footballer’s family and support his daughter, Carla, until she reaches adulthood.
Tenerife chief executive Antonio Manuel Porro Granados told The Athletic that the decision was initiated by the club’s majority shareholder, Rayco Garcia, and has received the full backing of the organisation.
“Our plan is to stand by the girl and make sure the entire Tenerife family supports her.
We want to be there for her at least until she reaches adulthood,” Granados said.
He added that the club would provide as much assistance as possible, going beyond its legal obligations to the family.
Tenerife are also considering additional ways to increase the financial assistance to ensure that the family’s circumstances are not made more difficult by the tragedy.
De Miguel Died Following On-Field Collision
The 30-year-old striker died following a serious collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during the closing stages of a second-division football match on the Spanish island.
A post-mortem examination established that De Miguel died from accidental chest trauma.
The preliminary report described the finding as consistent with the circumstances surrounding his death.
His girlfriend, Maria Fernandez, and their one-year-old daughter, Carla, were reportedly watching the match from the stands when the incident occurred.
Fundraiser Raises More Than £125,000
The club’s pledge comes as a fundraising campaign established to support De Miguel’s family has attracted more than £125,000 in donations.
Several prominent Spanish footballers, including Alvaro Morata and Alex Baena, have contributed to the crowdfunding appeal.
In addition to the donations and Tenerife’s commitment, reports indicate that the family is expected to receive approximately £300,000 in basic compensation following the footballer’s death.
Football Community Pays Tribute at Funeral
De Miguel’s funeral took place in Tenerife on Thursday, attracting members of the football community who gathered to support his grieving family.
His teammates attended the ceremony alongside Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Following his death, De Miguel’s family described the loss as leaving an “impossible void to fill”.
Owono Withdraws From Public View After Backlash
FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has withdrawn from public attention and shut down his Instagram account following the backlash surrounding the incident.
The goalkeeper faced hostility from Tenerife supporters, who reportedly chanted “murderer” at him as he left the pitch after the collision.
On Wednesday, Owono released a statement expressing his grief over De Miguel’s death and describing the experience as the most difficult period of his life.
“These are being the most difficult days of my life.
I am struggling to find the words and find it very difficult to assimilate anything that has happened,” he said.
He expressed sympathy for the deceased striker’s family and everyone who loved him, adding that he was experiencing enormous pain over the loss.
Owono also acknowledged that there would be several issues to address but said he would approach them with the utmost respect.
He concluded his statement by paying tribute to De Miguel, saying: “Rest in peace, Jesús.”
Police Investigate Circumstances Surrounding Footballer’s Death
Meanwhile, police investigations into De Miguel’s death are examining the emergency medical response and the circumstances of the collision involving Owono.
Homicide squad officers based in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, reportedly launched an investigation on Tuesday.
Court officials explained that any death that does not result from natural causes automatically triggers a judicial investigation.
Investigators are also examining whether the goalkeeper’s challenge could amount to involuntary manslaughter.
However, legal experts have indicated that they do not expect the investigation to result in criminal charges against Owono because the collision happened during open play.
The goalkeeper could nevertheless face a lengthy suspension over the incident.
