UD Almería, the Spanish club where Cristiano Ronaldo holds a 25% stake acquired in February, announced on Wednesday that it will donate all revenue from ticket sales for its April home fixture against CD Tenerife. The funds are intended to support the family of Jesús de Miguel, the 30-year-old forward who passed away on Tuesday after suffering cardiac arrest following an on-field collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono.
The club stated that while no financial contribution can compensate for such a tragedy, they felt compelled to take action. This gesture represents a significant commitment for a second-division team, as clubs in Spain's second tier lack the substantial television deals enjoyed by La Liga sides, making ticket sales a primary revenue source. The decision was made with the backing of Almería's owners.
De Miguel's death has triggered an investigation by Spanish police, a mandatory procedure under national law for any non-natural death or accident. Meanwhile, Jesús Owono, the 25-year-old goalkeeper involved in the incident, recently broke his silence through FC Andorra. He described the current period as the most difficult of his life, expressing that he is struggling to find words and come to terms with the event.
Owono acknowledged that many issues remain to be addressed and stated his intention to face them with respect, though his focus remains entirely on De Miguel. He also revealed that he has been subjected to a flood of racist insults online. Consequently, the goalkeeper skipped Andorra's voluntary practice session on Wednesday, where teammates observed a minute of silence in memory of their fallen colleague.
In response to the loss, CD Tenerife majority shareholder Rayco García confirmed that the entire squad will travel to the mainland for De Miguel's funeral, scheduled for Thursday in Navahermosa, Toledo. García also noted that De Miguel's wife and their 16-month-old child were present at the stadium during Monday's match. The club has initiated six days of official mourning and plans to open its stadium on Saturday to allow fans to pay their respects. Additionally, matches for both Tenerife and Andorra scheduled for this weekend have been postponed.
Sources: TMZ.