A goalkeeper involved in an on-field collision with a Spanish footballer who died has issued a statement, saying he is going through the “hardest days of my life”.
Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono collided with Tenerife forward Jesus De Miguel, who was later taken into intensive care.
De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest, after which he died.
Owono has released a statement saying he is feeling “huge pain at the loss of Jesus”.
He wrote: “These have been the hardest days of my life. I am struggling to find the words, and it is very difficult for me to process anything that has happened.
“I feel immense pain at the loss of Jesus. My thoughts are with him, his family and everyone who loved him.
“I know there will be many questions to address, and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect.
“But right now, honestly, I cannot think about anything other than Jesus and the pain we are going through. Rest in peace, Jesus.”
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Spanish national police confirmed they have opened up a routine investigation into De Miguel’s death.
Andorra teammate Lautaro Spatz came to the defence of Owono earlier today, saying he “would never intentionally hurt anyone”.
Spatz paid tribute to De Miguel, then said of his teammate: “Those of us who know him know the kind of person he is, how much he is suffering at this moment and that he would never intentionally hurt anyone.
“In football, unfortunate incidents can happen, but no one could imagine that one of them might end with such tragic consequences.”
The horrific collision occurred in the final moments of Tenerife’s tie with Andorra at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López.
De Miguel challenged for the ball in midfield when Owono charged into him in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Owono was shown a straight red card as players gathered around the fallen forward.
Tenerife and Andorra players frantically motioned for medics to aid De Miguel as he lay motionless.
Staff treated the forward on the pitch for five minutes before rushing him to hospital as the match was abandoned.
Tenerife warned De Miguel’s “medical condition has worsened neurologically” after he was hospitalised, just hours before his death.
De Miguel began playing for Tenerife last year, after representing seven other Spanish clubs.
The forward made his professional debut in 2015 with Madrid club Leganes B.
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