Jesus Owono says he is going through the most difficult days of his life in a statement released by his club FC Andorra on Wednesday, following the death of Tenerife forward Jesus De Miguel.
The Tenerife forward died on Tuesday morning following a collision with Owono during a Spanish second division match on Monday.
Owono was sent off for the clash having raced from his goal and struck 30-year-old De Miguel at force, with the Tenerife player subsequently suffering a cardiac arrest after being taken into intensive care.
“These are the most difficult days of my life,” Owono said in a statement. “I struggle to find the words, and I find it very hard to process what has happened. 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 experiencing. Rest in peace, Jesus.”
Owono deactivated his Instagram account on Tuesday after receiving abuse online.
Andorra said that they were offering psychological support to anyone at the club who needed it following De Miguel’s death.
Andorra centre-back Lautaro Spatz defended his team-mate Owono on Tuesday evening.
“I also want to say a few words about my team-mate, goalkeeper and friend, who is deeply affected by what has happened,” Spatz said on social media.
“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,” continued Spatz, also sending his condolences to De Miguel’s family and Tenerife.
The Equatoguinean Football Federation expressed support for Owono in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the 25-year-old was going through a situation of profound sorrow and grief.
Owono has made 47 international appearances for Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, Can Vidalet goalkeeper Michel Owono said on social media that he was receiving racist abuse, with people confusing him with the Andorra player.
Spanish national police have opened a routine investigation into De Miguel’s death.
Fans gathered at Tenerife’s Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium to lay tributes to De Miguel, with the club declaring six days of official mourning.
A memorial service will be held at the ground on Saturday evening for the striker, with supporters invited to attend.
Tuesday’s domestic Spanish games were called off as a mark of respect but Champions League matches went ahead, including Barcelona’s clash with Aston Villa at the Nou Camp.
A minute’s silence was held ahead of the contest, which Barca won 3-0, with Raphinha scoring twice.
Speaking to CBS Sports afterwards, the Brazilian refused to talk about the game, saying: “I want to send a lot of strength to the family of Jesus. Today I’m not going to talk about football.
“For me, the truth is it was quite difficult (to play). After seeing the news, of course I didn’t have good feelings. He’s a fellow player and it could have happened to anyone, it could have happened to me.
“He was the same age as me, I don’t know if that’s why it affected me more. It’s been a difficult day. Personally, it touched me a lot.”
Arsenal also held a minute’s silence at their training session to remember De Miguel, while manager Mikel Arteta addressed the situation in his press conference.
“Absolutely heartbreaking,” said Arteta. “Watching back the action, the incident, what happened, to see a colleague lose his life in such a manner, it’s beyond any words that I can put today.
“So, on behalf of everybody at the club, we want to send our condolences to the family of Jesus de Miguel, all his loved ones, and to Tenerife as well because it’s been a really difficult day.”
The Tenerife match was suspended after the incident, which occurred in stoppage time, with distressed players calling for immediate medical attention.
A statement from Tenerife announcing De Miguel’s death read: “We stand alongside his devastated family, alongside his loved ones… that today weep for this cruel outcome.”
In their own statement on Tuesday evening, Andorra said the club were “deeply shocked”, adding: “The first thing we want to do is express our most sincere condolences to his family, CD Tenerife and all those who were close to him.
“We know that no words can ease such pain, but we want them to know that we are by their side and that we deeply share their sadness.”
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