Tenerife players press for grief pause after De Miguel death
A unanimous vote by footballers to postpone matches clashed with league decisions, sparking a review of medical protocols in Spanish football.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
Thousands of fans gathered at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium in Santa Cruz on Saturday to mourn forward Jesus De Miguel. The player died five days after a collision during a second division match. His teammates returned to the pitch in black, standing beneath a banner that read "Eterno Demi 9". A bouquet of flowers marked the specific spot where the striker fell during the game earlier that week.
The tribute highlighted a growing disagreement over how the sport handles player trauma. The players' union, AFE, reported that footballers across all categories unanimously voted to postpone fixtures. They argued they were not emotionally prepared to compete. Despite this consensus, the Spanish football federation did not issue a blanket suspension of play. Instead, three Segunda division matches and one women's game were delayed, while top division fixtures proceeded as scheduled.
The competition judge ruled the union's request inadmissible, stating that the decision rested with La Liga. Officials organized commemorative shirts and pauses from the ninth minute to honor De Miguel's jersey number. Spanish football expert Albert Ortega noted that while the grief was acknowledged, the collective request for time off was not fully met. He suggested that institutional statements often overstate the actual influence of players' emotional well-being on the calendar.
The incident has also intensified scrutiny on medical standards within the league. An investigation into the collision and the emergency response continues. The federation's disciplinary committee has deferred its decision on Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who was involved in the collision. Reports indicate a potential suspension of up to 12 matches could be imposed. This follows a similar fatal incident involving goalkeeper Raul Ramirez in September of last year, which exposed gaps in medical coverage at lower-tier grounds.
David Aganzo, president of AFE, has renewed calls for mandatory medical professionals and ambulances at stadiums across all national categories. Ortega emphasized that written protocols are only effective if staff understand their roles and can act in coordination. He proposed independent reviews and regular emergency drills to ensure stadiums are ready to respond to crises. The club has pledged financial support for De Miguel's 18-month-old daughter, Carla, until she turns 18.
Jose Diaz Muros, a leader of the Pena Iberica supporters' group, described the loss as deeply personal for the community. He noted that players become part of fans' daily lives, making the absence felt even by those who did not know the player personally. As the ceremony concluded, a monochrome image of De Miguel was displayed while fans stood for a final round of applause.
The case remains under criminal review, though the chief prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife indicated that proceedings were unlikely. He cited the legal distinction between injuries occurring during normal play and deliberate aggression. The focus now shifts to whether the governing bodies will implement the structural changes requested by the players' union to prevent future tragedies.
