A Spanish-based footballer, Michael Owono, has condemned a wave of racist abuse, insults and death threats directed at him after he was mistakenly identified as the goalkeeper involved in the on-field collision that led to the death of Spanish striker Jesús de Miguel.
Michael, who plays for Spanish club CF Can Vidalet, said he had become the target of hateful messages because he shares a surname with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, who collided with De Miguel during a Spanish Segunda División fixture.
The incident occurred during a match between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra, when the goalkeeper rushed out of his goal and collided with De Miguel in the middle of the pitch during added time.
The striker received emergency medical attention following the collision but later died. CD Tenerife confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
De Miguel, 30, had entered the match as a substitute for fellow Spanish player Enri Gallego in the 57th minute.
Reacting to the incident through a statement published on his X account on Tuesday, Michael expressed condolences to the family, friends and associates of the deceased footballer.
However, he also clarified that he was not Jesús Owono and had no involvement in the incident.
He said sharing the goalkeeper’s surname had resulted in widespread confusion, exposing him to messages containing racism, insults, hatred and threats.
Michael described the experience as deeply painful and condemned the individuals responsible for targeting him over an incident with which he had no connection.
He wrote:
“Furthermore, I want to make it clear that I AM NOT JESÚS OWONO and that I have no connection with what happened. They are confusing me because of my surname, and as a result, I have received a large number of messages of hate, racism, insults and threats, which hurt me deeply and which I condemn in their entirety.”
He further criticised the spread of racism and intolerance, calling for greater respect and humanity in society.
According to him, nobody should be subjected to abuse, insults or threats because of their skin colour or place of origin.
Michael’s club, CF Can Vidalet, has also publicly condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with the player.
In a statement, the club described the abuse as unjustified and condemned racism, defamation, insults and threats directed at its footballer.
“From CF Can Vidalet, we condemn any manifestation of racism, defamation, insult, or threat. We express all our support to our player, who is receiving unjustified attacks due to a case of mistaken identity.
“Respect is non-negotiable. We stand with you,” the club stated.
Michael subsequently thanked those who had reached out to support him during the difficult period, particularly individuals who defended him against the false identification.
He also stressed that football should bring people together rather than create divisions.
“Football must unite, not divide. And hatred, harassment and discrimination have no place anywhere, neither in sport nor in life,” he said.
Meanwhile, Spanish police have reportedly opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter following De Miguel’s death.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision during the match between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has also announced that a moment of silence will be observed in memory of the deceased footballer at UEFA matches scheduled for this week.
Football clubs and members of the sporting community have continued to express condolences following the striker’s death.
The incident has also renewed concerns about racism, online harassment and the dangers of mistaken identity, particularly when emotional reactions to sporting incidents spread across social media.
Michael’s experience highlights how individuals who have no connection to an incident can become targets of abuse through misinformation and careless identification.
As tributes continue to pour in for De Miguel, calls for respect, empathy and responsible conduct online have become an important part of the reaction to the tragedy.
