The funeral of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel was held on Thursday in Navahermosa, Toledo, about 125 kilometres from Madrid. The 30-year-old died on Tuesday at 07:00 GMT after suffering a serious injury during a Spanish second division match against FC Andorra on Monday. He collided with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, lay motionless on the pitch, and was taken to hospital where he later died. Owono was sent off and the match was abandoned.
De Miguel's teammates carried his coffin before a service at the San Miguel Arcangel church. Among the mourners were Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin, and former Real Madrid and Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho.
De Miguel's agent, Manuel Hernandez, released a statement on behalf of the family: "Thank you for loving him, for remembering him and for being with us. We cannot find enough words to thank you for every message, every phone call and every gesture of affection we are receiving. Feeling such affection for Jesus and seeing the mark he has left on so many people is something we will always carry with us. Jesus leaves a void that is impossible to fill, but also cherished memories for all of us who were fortunate enough to share our lives with him."
Tributes have included a minute's silence at all European competition matches this week. Owono said he was experiencing "the most difficult days of my life" and expressed enormous pain over the loss. The family requested privacy for themselves and those supporting them. Mourners laid flowers and lit candles beneath an image of De Miguel at Tenerife's Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez.
The Spanish footballers' union (AFE) requested that all weekend matches be postponed out of respect. Tenerife's game at Granada and Andorra's match against Mallorca have already been postponed, along with several midweek cup fixtures. However, Spanish clubs in European competition played their scheduled games. The AFE stated that players "in every category" unanimously believe there are not the psychological and humane conditions necessary for competition to proceed normally.
