FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has been suspended for 12 matches by the Spanish Football Federation following the on-field incident that resulted in the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.
De Miguel was chasing a high ball in midfield when Owono rushed out of his area and struck him in the chest. The 25-year-old goalkeeper was sent off following the collision late in the November 2 Spanish second-division match between the two sides. De Miguel was rushed to intensive care but died the following day, aged 30.
The federation's disciplinary committee ruled that Owono had committed a serious infringement under Article 102 of its disciplinary code, which deals with violent conduct during play that causes serious injury to an opponent. The committee imposed the maximum punishment permitted under the article, along with the applicable fines under Article 52.
"The referee's own description makes it possible to appreciate the particular seriousness of the action, both because of the way it was carried out, with the leg raised, and because of the forcefulness of the impact, which the referee expressly described as excessive," the committee said. It also referred to De Miguel's death while explaining its decision to impose the maximum sanction.
In another ruling, the federation confirmed that the match, which was abandoned seven minutes into stoppage time after the incident, would not be replayed.
The score was 2-2 when play was stopped, and the result will stand. "This avoids having to resume play from the precise moment at which the tragic incident occurred," the federation said, describing the decision to let the result stand as the "most respectful course of action, given the extraordinary and tragic circumstances of this case".
Owono has since withdrawn from Equatorial Guinea's squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe this month. FC Andorra manager Carles Manso said on Thursday that the goalkeeper had not yet decided whether he would return to football. The club, he added, would not put any pressure on him.
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"We will give him space so that he feels completely free to make any decision, whether he wants to return, when, or if he does not want to return.
"When he feels it is appropriate and when he feels genuinely ready to take a decision like that [he will do so]," Manso said.
Owono had earlier described the period following De Miguel's death as "the most difficult days of my life". The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation also said he was experiencing profound sorrow and grief.
