The Spanish Football Federation postponed all matches scheduled for today (Tuesday), including matches in the King’s Cup and Queen’s Cup, following the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, competing in the second division, at the age of 30.
The Federation also canceled the official event to present the Spain U-21 national team’s match against Japan, as an expression of solidarity with the player’s family, teammates, and Tenerife club fans.
The European Football Association (UEFA) announced a minute of silence before all European matches scheduled for this week, to mourn the player’s death, at a time when Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Villarreal are preparing to compete in the Champions League on Tuesday.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda. We searched for words to express our feelings, but we found nothing but silence.”
Messages of condolence came from Spanish football clubs. Barcelona expressed its support for the player’s family, friends and loved ones in these difficult times, while Real Madrid offered its condolences to his family, teammates, club and all those close to him.
The Tenerife club announced the death of its striker on Tuesday, after he suffered a heart attack following a strong collision during the match against Andorra, which was held on Monday, in the second-tier Spanish League competitions.
Di Miguel fell to the ground after colliding with Andorran goalkeeper Jesus Auno, who rushed outside the penalty area to clear a long pass, and his knee collided with the striker's chest, prompting the referee to stop the match and call the medical staff.
The player received first aid on the field for more than 5 minutes before being taken by ambulance to the hospital, but he later died.
The Tenerife club said in a statement mourning its player: “It is with great pain, our hearts are broken, and we cannot believe the truth of the matter that we announce the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda,” adding that there are no words that can reduce the amount of grief.
Andorra club president Gerard Pique wrote on social media: “I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. "Rest in peace, Jesús."
Di Miguel was born in Madrid in 1996, and joined Tenerife from Castellon before the start of the 2025-2026 season, after scoring 11 goals last season.
Nicky Butt, the former Manchester United midfielder, launched a sharp attack on Argentine Lisandro Martinez, the English team's defender. Because of his participation in raising a political banner confirming the Falkland Islands’ dependence on Argentina, following his country’s victory over England in the World Cup semi-finals, he noted that such behavior would not have passed without a strong reaction within United’s dressing rooms in the past.
Martinez was among a group of Argentine national team players who raised a banner reading: “Las Malvinas is Argentinian,” meaning “The Falkland Islands are Argentine,” after beating England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) imposed a fine on the Argentine Football Association amounting to 235 thousand pounds sterling. Because of what he described as a show of a political nature.
According to the British newspaper "The Telegraph", Butt, who won six titles in the "English Premier League" with Manchester United, said that Martinez does not deserve sympathy in light of his actions and performance on the field, noting that the player lives in England, but he appeared celebrating the Argentine flag against the English national team.
He added, during his speech on the “Piers Morgan Uncensored” program: “He lives in our country and dances carrying the Argentine flag in the World Cup.” What does he do? Then he expects people to pat him on the shoulder when he has a bad game.”
The former United player criticized what he considered to be a contradiction between the defender's performance and his statements criticizing the club's management, after Martinez asked United officials to make more efforts in the transfer market, expressing his disappointment with technical director Jason Wilcox, following the loss to Atletico Madrid 0-2 in the Champions League.
Butt said that Martinez behaves with excessive sensitivity towards criticism, even though he criticizes those responsible for the club, adding: “He has the audacity to appear in an interview and criticize officials because of contracts, while he himself is not performing at good levels. If the club were to sign new players, he would be one of the first to replace them.”
Butt also linked the defender's poor performance to his expulsion against Chelsea, on Saturday, in the match that United lost 0-2, after he caused a penalty kick before receiving the red card, criticizing his elbow tackle during the match.
Butt recalled the dressing room atmosphere during his time with United, saying that Martinez would have been subjected to harsh criticism if he had behaved in the same way at that time, adding: “In our days, they would have completely torn his head off. Everyone would have said to him: Who do you think you are to talk about your colleagues in this way, while you are performing at this level?
He added that the player's status does not give him the right to belittle his teammates, even if he is the best player in Europe, considering that Martinez has moved from a player loved by the fans to a player whose departure the club's fans demand.
The Argentine defender has been subjected to mounting criticism recently, especially after his statements regarding Manchester United's contract policy, in addition to the decline in his level and the team's negative results.
A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of committing a public order offence, before being released on bail.
Videos have emerged on social media showing a Coventry City fan taunting Sunderland fans by referring to Bradley Lowry.
Bradley, a Sunderland fan, nicknamed the "Black Cats", captured the hearts of football fans around the world after he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare type of childhood cancer. He passed away in 2017 at the age of six.
Video clips circulating on social media showed a fan holding up a picture of Bradley during a match held last Saturday in the English Premier League between Coventry City and Sunderland.
West Midlands Police said in a statement on Tuesday: “A teenage boy was arrested in Coventry. On suspicion of committing a public order violation, it was decided to release him on conditional bail.
Gemma Lowry, Bradley's mother, issued an emotional statement through the Bradley Lowry Foundation the day before yesterday, Sunday, in which she called on everyone not to "direct any hatred, threats, or harm" to the boy or his family.
Describing him as her “beautiful little boy,” Bradley’s mother said, “He deserves to be remembered with love, not hate,” adding, “Seeing a beautiful memory like this (the photo) used in a very cruel way really hurts my heart.”
She continued: “We are a family that loves football and follows Sunderland FC in all its matches, whether at home or away. I don't mind football jokes, but can making fun of a child who died of cancer be considered a joke?
Bradley's mother explained in her statement, which was reported by the British news agency "PA Media": "I hope that the club will take appropriate measures, and that the boy's family will help their son realize the extent of his cruel behavior."
She stressed: “I do not want any hatred directed at him, so please, do not do that. Let this situation be a lesson for him to learn from.”
Gemma Lowry concluded her statement by saying: “Behind that picture, there is a little boy who was loved infinitely, and a family who misses him every day.”
The police had said, the day before yesterday, Sunday, that the boy had surrendered himself to the authorities, explaining in a statement: “We understand the state of dissatisfaction and anger that this clip aroused in society and among the members of the victim’s family.”
The police noted: “We confirm that our officers are keen to inform the family of developments in the investigation, and are working in close coordination with both clubs.”
For its part, Coventry City FC confirmed that it is aware of the video clips circulating on social media, stressing in its statement: “The club does not tolerate abusive behavior, and will communicate with the relevant authorities to determine the appropriate action that will be taken.”
