“Neurological condition has worsened” – professional football player suffers cardiac arrest after a foul

The cardiac arrest of a CD Tenerife player after a hard foul in a second division game shocked Spanish football. Jesús de Miguel also apparently suffered head injuries in a violent collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono. He collapsed on the pitch and initially doubled over in pain.

An Andorra player was the first to reach the injured man and immediately started waving excitedly and gesturing towards the touchline when he caught a glimpse of de Miguel. The players on both teams were visibly shaken by the incident, with some of de Miguel's teammates having tears in their eyes.

On the way to the hospital, rescue workers had to resuscitate the footballer, according to an initial statement about the 30-year-old striker's condition. “De Miguel is breathing on his own but remains unconscious,” it said.

The incident occurred in stoppage time of the game when de Miguel was fouled at high speed just behind the halfway line by the Andorra keeper who had sprinted out. The goalkeeper immediately saw a red card for the excessively hard action. The players of both teams appeared shocked by the sight of the injured player, and the referee stopped the game when the score was 2-2.

CD Tenerife initially said that de Miguel's condition was serious but stable. This Tuesday morning, the club announced: “The medical condition of Jesús de Miguel has deteriorated neurologically.” Further information would follow at a later date.

FC Andorra expressed its regret and condolences. "We at FC Andorra would like to send Jesús de Miguel a lot of strength and the best wishes for recovery after the serious incident in today's game. We hope that he will get well again soon. We send a warm hug to the player, his family and CD Tenerife," the club said.

Other Spanish clubs also immediately sent their well-wishes. “We assure Jesús de Miguel our full support during this difficult time and wish him a lot of strength,” wrote Real Madrid on the X platform.