Goalkeeper Owono’s 12-match ban feels light – Tenerife coach

Equatorial Guinea's goalkeeper #01 Jesus Owono looks up after failing to stop a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group E football match between Equatorial Guinea and Algeria at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 31, 2025.. CREDIT: AFP

Tenerife manager Álvaro Cervera has admitted that the 12-match suspension handed to FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono might feel light considering the tragic death of Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel.

Owono, 25, was sent off after colliding with De Miguel during the closing stages of the Spanish second-tier encounter between FC Andorra and Tenerife on November 2.

De Miguel, 30, died the following day, leaving both clubs and the football community mourning his loss.

The Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee confirmed Owono’s 12-match ban on Friday, handing him the maximum punishment permitted under the existing regulations.

However, the committee explained that it could only consider the incident on the pitch and not the tragic outcome.

As reported by BBC Sport on Saturday, speaking ahead of Tenerife’s first match since De Miguel’s death, against Ceuta on Sunday, Cervera said he understood the decision to follow the established regulations.

“I think that, just as in other areas of life, there are rules or laws that must be followed,” he said.

“Since the current regulations don’t specifically account for what happened, I believe they have simply adhered to the rules and imposed the number of matches permitted by the regulations.

“Anything else I might say would just be my own personal opinion, which I’ll keep to myself. It might seem a bit light when compared to other cases, but in reality, I don’t think the rules allow for anything else.”

The disciplinary committee also stressed that its decision was based on the facts recorded in the referee’s report.

According to the report, Owono was dismissed for “violently striking an opponent in the chest with his leg, using excessive force, while the ball was in play”.

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Meanwhile, Cervera admitted that returning to training and preparing for competitive football had been difficult for his players following De Miguel’s death.

The 61-year-old said the squad appeared to be gradually adjusting during training sessions but acknowledged that the players could be dealing with their grief differently away from the club.

“When we’re together, we’re fine, during our sessions, we’re doing well,” he said.

“It feels like the group is gradually getting back to normal. What we don’t know is how everyone is doing when we’re apart and that’s a significant factor.

“Everyone has their own way of coping and their own thoughts; some have people at home to support them, while others are more on their own.

“We’re making progress, a very slow process, but we are moving forward – it’s tough, it’s complicated.”

Cervera also admitted uncertainty over whether his players were emotionally ready to return to action, noting that while some might welcome football as a distraction, others could find it difficult.

He insisted that both reactions were understandable as Tenerife prepared to face Ceuta in their first fixture since the tragedy.

“On one hand, you want to return to some sense of normality though you know that true normality isn’t something you’ll find right now,” he added.

“This isn’t something you can just set aside or push to the back of your mind to focus on your own work; it’s not like other life events you might encounter. It’s always there, constantly on your mind, yet we have to keep going.”

PUNCH Online had reported that Owono was suspended for 12 matches by the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee on Friday after his challenge on Jesus de Miguel resulted in the death of the Tenerife striker last week