FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono has been suspended for 12 matches by the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee, a sanction announced on Friday after his challenge on Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel led to the player's death the previous week. Owono, an Equatorial Guinea international, was sent off during the second division match on November 2 after racing into midfield and colliding with De Miguel while attempting to clear an aerial ball.

De Miguel, 30, was placed in intensive care after the collision and died on November 3. The committee said the assessment had to rest on the referee's report, which recorded that Owono was sent off for "violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play." It described the outcome as public knowledge and said that, given the conduct and circumstances, the maximum sanction was justified.S1S2

Spanish police sources told AFP last week that an investigation into the incident had been opened under judicial supervision. Owono said in a statement published by Andorra that these were "the hardest days of my life" and that he could think of nothing other than De Miguel and the pain being felt. Andorra coach Carles Manso said Owono would decide if and when he returns to football.S1S2

Tenerife fans and players gathered at the club's stadium on Saturday for a memorial and farewell to De Miguel. His funeral the previous Thursday was attended by around 400 mourners, including Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.S1S2