Spain's National Police have opened an investigation into the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 3 after a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono.
Owono was shown a red card after he collided with De Miguel near midfield during a La Liga 2 match on Monday, Nov. 2. The striker suffered cardiac arrest and was immediately transported to the hospital after the collision, with the match abandoned.
De Miguel's neurological condition deteriorated on Tuesday morning and he ultimately died at the age of 30.
The National Police have opened proceedings for possible involuntary manslaughter. However, José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui, the chief prosecutor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, told EFE that it is "very unlikely”
the case will result in criminal proceedings against Owono.
Sánchez-Jáuregui added that injuries during the course of a sporting event typically don't fall under criminal liability, but he will first wait for the results of an investigation by the Royal Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee.
The prosecutor said that the referee's match report will be key, as well as whether the disciplinary committee determines that Owono's challenge was intended to cause harm.
Why is an investigation being opened into De Miguel's death?
According to multiple Spanish outlets, the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) said that a judicial investigation is the standard procedure for any death that occurs due to unnatural causes.
The opening of such an investigation does not imply there is any evidence of a crime, or that any individual has been assigned criminal responsibility for a death.
"Every death that does not have a natural cause — what is known as 'judicial death,' whether due to accident or other causes — entails the opening of a judicial investigation ex officio, as is the case here," said a TSJC statement.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police investigating soccer player's death but goalkeeper unlikely to face charges
