Soccer-Family and teammates mourn Tenerife striker De Miguel at funeral

Family, friends and teammates gathered in the ​village of Navahermosa on Thursday for the funeral ‌of ​Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died following an on-field collision. De Miguel collided with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during Monday's match and was taken to intensive care. Tenerife confirmed De Miguel's death ‌on Tuesday morning.

The Tenerife squad, club staff and majority shareholder Rayco Garcia attended the funeral, along with Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzan, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez and Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin. De Miguel's coffin was ‌carried out of San Miguel Arcangel church in a procession to the cemetery.

De Miguel's family thanked well-wishers for their support in ‌a statement read by his agent Manuel Hernandez before the funeral. "Feeling so much affection for Jesus and seeing the impact he had on so many people is something we will always carry with us," the family said in the statement read by Hernandez.

"Jesus leaves a void that is impossible to fill, but also cherished memories ⁠for ​all of us who were fortunate ⁠enough to share our lives with him. Thank you for loving him and for standing by us." Spanish police have opened a routine investigation into De Miguel's death.

Andorra ⁠released a statement on Wednesday, in which Owono said: "These are the most difficult days of my life." Tenerife's match against Granada and Andorra's game with Mallorca, ​both scheduled for this weekend, have been postponed.

Tenerife's main rivals, Las Palmas, will play their fixture against Eldense on Sunday ⁠in blue and white colours, traditionally worn by Tenerife, as a tribute to De Miguel. Garcia invited fans to Tenerife's stadium on Saturday to pay their respects to De ⁠Miguel ​in what he called 'the last goodbye'.

LALIGA TO GO AHEAD The Spanish Footballers’ Association said on Thursday it had requested the suspension of this weekend's round of matches.

LaLiga later confirmed that fixtures in the first and second divisions would go ahead, with the exception of ⁠Andorra-Mallorca, Granada-Tenerife and Castellon-Eibar. De Miguel spent two-and-a-half years at Castellon before moving to Tenerife in 2025, and LaLiga accepted the club's request ⁠to postpone their match.

A minute's silence ⁠will be observed before each game that goes ahead, while the referee will stop play at the first interruption after the ninth minute, in recognition of the number nine shirt De Miguel wore ‌for Tenerife. The tributes were ‌agreed by LaLiga, Liga F, the RFEF, players and clubs.