The death of a Spanish footballer is currently being investigated for manslaughter after he was fatally injured in a collision on the pitch during a match.
The country’s national police said on Tuesday that proceedings had been opened and that prosecutors would also be involved.
Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel has died after suffering a cardiac arrest following an on-field collision during a Spanish second division match, his club said. He was 30 years old.
De Miguel was fighting for the ball near midfield on Monday when he was hit in the chest by Andorran goalkeeper Jesús Owono during injury time.
Owono received a straight red card for this incident.
De Miguel was taken to hospital and the match, tied 2-2, was stopped after the incident.
Tenerife said in a statement to Spanish media on Monday evening that De Miguel suffered cardiac arrest but his pulse was restored in the ambulance that took him to hospital. However, he later said his condition had “worsened neurologically” and later announced that De Miguel had died at 8 a.m.
The club, located in Spain’s Canary Islands, said it was “heartbroken”.
“There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this overwhelming feeling of sadness,” the club wrote in a press release announcing the death on social networks. “The family of Jesús de Miguel thanks each of the expressions of support received and also asks, from the bottom of our hearts, the greatest respect for his privacy in these terrible times.”
De Miguel, originally from Madrid, made his professional debut in 2015 with Leganés B and has since played for several lower division clubs in Spain. He joined Tenerife last year.
“There are no words of comfort,” the club’s statement said. “There is absolutely nothing that can ease this deep sense of sadness. We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones and the entire Tenerife community.”
AP photo 
The heavy collision occurred when Owono rushed out of his area into midfield to contest a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.
De Miguel first got on his knees, clutching his torso for a few seconds, before falling onto his back, arms falling to his sides.
Owono was leaving the field after receiving a red card, but turned and joined the other players rushing to check on De Miguel.
Andorra, which is owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique, also offered its condolences, alongside other clubs, the Spanish football federation and La Liga.
“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel, to all his colleagues and friends, as well as to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace,” Andorra said in a statement.
Real Madrid players observed a minute’s silence for De Miguel during training, while their compatriot Espanyol postponed the presentation of his new coach.
English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool joined them in expressing their condolences on social media.
The Spanish football federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina match, which were due to be held later Tuesday.
Life-threatening injuries resulting from football collisions are extremely rare.
Last year in Spain, a 19-year-old goalkeeper died from head injuries sustained in a collision during a fifth division match. Colindres goalkeeper Raúl Ramírez suffered two cardiorespiratory arrests, one on the field and then in the ambulance while being transported to a hospital. He was declared brain dead two days later.
In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun was playing for CSKA Moscow when he died from head injuries sustained in a collision during a match.
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