Tenerife mourns forward Jesus De Miguel

Thousands of fans and players gathered at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, on Saturday to honor the memory of forward Jesus De Miguel. The tribute took place five days after the 27-year-old player died following a collision during a professional football match.

De Miguel suffered the injury on Monday while playing for CD Tenerife against Andorra in the Spanish second division. He was taken to the hospital immediately, and his death was confirmed on Tuesday. The incident has sparked a review of emergency protocols in Spanish football.

At the stadium, the pitch was marked with a bouquet of flowers at the spot where the collision occurred. Teammates wore black jerseys, and a banner reading 'Eterno Demi 9' hung above the field. The number nine reference acknowledged De Miguel's nickname and shirt number.

CD Tenerife captain Enric Gallego delivered a farewell address to the crowd. He described De Miguel as a teammate who rarely asked for help, noting that the forward had once walked home when his car broke down rather than inconveniencing others.

'To speak of you in the past tense is tremendously unfair,' Gallego told the audience. 'It's still hard to believe that this has happened to us, Demi, you will always be one of us.'

De Miguel's parents, sister, wife, and 18-month-old daughter, Carla, stood on a makeshift stage to receive applause from the thousands of supporters. The club pledged to provide financial support for Carla until she reaches the age of 18.

The event drew attendees from across the Canary Islands, including fans from rival club UD Las Palmas. A group from Las Palmas placed a wreath on the pitch, signaling a moment of shared grief that transcended local rivalry.

The Spanish players' union, AFE, stated that footballers across all categories unanimously requested a postponement of matches because they did not feel ready to compete. Three Segunda Division games were delayed, along with a women's match involving Costa Adeje Tenerife, but the top division continued to play as scheduled.

The competition judge ruled that AFE's request for a blanket suspension was inadmissible, stating the decision rested with La Liga. The governing bodies organized commemorative shirts and pauses at the ninth minute to honor De Miguel's jersey number.

Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui, the chief prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, told EFE news agency that criminal proceedings against Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono seemed unlikely. He distinguished between injuries during normal play and deliberate aggression.

The Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee has deferred its decision on Owono, with reports suggesting a potential suspension of up to 12 matches. The club's investigation into the emergency response and evacuation procedures continues.

Albert Ortega, a Spanish football expert, noted that while players' emotional wellbeing is important, institutional responses often prioritize the calendar. He argued that a written protocol and independent reviews are necessary to improve safety standards across all divisions.