Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Spanish footballers have called for the suspension of all football matches scheduled for the weekend following the death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, saying players are not emotionally prepared to return to competitive action after the tragedy.
The request was made on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), which said consultations with male and female players across different divisions revealed widespread support for postponing the weekend’s fixtures.
The appeal followed the death of De Miguel, 30, who died on Tuesday, November 3, after suffering a serious injury during a Spanish second-division match between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Spanish football, prompting tributes from clubs, players, football authorities and supporters, while raising renewed questions about the emotional and physical demands placed on professional athletes following traumatic incidents on the pitch.
The AFE is asking football authorities to recognise the psychological impact of the tragedy and allow players additional time to mourn their colleague.
AFE Says Players Are Not Emotionally Ready to Compete
In its statement, the AFE explained that it had contacted footballers across different categories to assess their emotional condition following De Miguel’s death.
According to the organisation, the players expressed deep sadness and considered the circumstances unsuitable for continuing normal competitive activities.
The association said the responses demonstrated broad agreement that postponing the weekend’s matches would be the most appropriate decision.
Its position is based on the belief that football should recognise the human consequences of the tragedy rather than prioritise competition and scheduling obligations.
The AFE consequently called on the relevant football authorities to suspend the scheduled fixtures and provide players with an opportunity to mourn.
The association had also previously approached the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), LaLiga and UEFA over the possibility of suspending competitions following the player’s death.
Its latest appeal specifically concerns the weekend’s domestic football programme.
However, the request for a wider suspension should be distinguished from the postponements already confirmed by individual clubs and football authorities.
How Jesús de Miguel Died
De Miguel died following a serious on-field collision during Tenerife’s league encounter against FC Andorra on Monday, November 2.
The incident occurred when the striker came into contact with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, who had moved out of his goal to challenge for the ball.
The collision left De Miguel seriously injured and required immediate medical attention.
He was subsequently taken to hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit at the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Tenerife.
The club initially reported that his condition was serious. In a subsequent medical update, Tenerife announced that his neurological condition had deteriorated.
His death was confirmed on Tuesday morning, November 3.
The incident deeply affected both clubs and the wider Spanish football community.
FC Andorra expressed condolences to De Miguel’s family, teammates and CD Tenerife, while football organisations and several prominent clubs also issued messages of sympathy.
The circumstances surrounding the incident have attracted attention, but the precise medical findings and any questions concerning the emergency response should be treated separately from the confirmed fact of his death.
Spanish police have opened a routine investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Spanish Football Authorities Have Already Postponed Several Matches
The AFE’s appeal comes after the Royal Spanish Football Federation took immediate action following confirmation of De Miguel’s death.
On November 3, the RFEF announced the postponement of matches scheduled for that day in the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina.
The federation subsequently extended the suspension of its competitions through Thursday, November 5, as a mark of respect and solidarity.
The affected fixtures included matches in the early rounds of the men’s and women’s domestic cup competitions.
The federation said revised schedules and new dates for the postponed matches would be communicated later.
However, the federation’s decision to suspend cup fixtures did not automatically mean that every domestic league and European competition would be halted.
This distinction is important because the AFE’s latest request seeks a broader suspension covering the weekend’s football programme.
Tenerife and Other Clubs Request Postponements
CD Tenerife has also sought additional time for its players and staff to mourn their teammate.
The club requested that its scheduled league match against Granada CF, originally planned for Saturday, November 7, be postponed.
Granada supported the request, and the match was subsequently postponed.
The fixture was part of the 13th round of the Spanish second division, known as LaLiga Hypermotion.
Tenerife also requested the postponement of its Copa del Rey fixture against CD Badajoz.
That match was subsequently suspended by the relevant competition authority.
FC Andorra also announced the postponement of its scheduled weekend meeting with Mallorca following the tragedy.
These decisions demonstrate that the impact of De Miguel’s death has extended beyond his immediate teammates to other clubs involved in the incident and the wider football community.
The former club of De Miguel, CD Castellón, has also been involved in the tributes following his death.
The growing number of postponements has intensified discussions about whether the entire weekend programme should be suspended.
Players’ Welfare Takes Centre Stage
The AFE’s appeal has brought renewed attention to the psychological welfare of professional footballers.
Footballers are often expected to resume training and competitive activities shortly after difficult personal or professional experiences.
However, the death of a teammate during or immediately after a football match presents an exceptional situation that can affect players differently.
Those who witnessed the incident may experience grief, shock and emotional distress, particularly when the player involved was a close teammate or friend.
The situation also affects coaching staff, medical personnel, club employees and supporters who witnessed the incident or followed developments surrounding the player’s condition.
The AFE’s position suggests that football authorities should consider these human factors when deciding whether scheduled competitions should proceed.
Although football operates within established calendars involving broadcasting arrangements, commercial agreements, travel plans and sporting commitments, the association believes that exceptional circumstances may justify temporary adjustments.
Its appeal therefore raises a wider question about how professional sports organisations balance commercial and competitive obligations with the welfare of athletes.
Tributes Across the Football Community
De Miguel’s death has generated widespread expressions of sympathy from across Spanish and European football.
CD Tenerife has received messages of support from clubs, football officials and supporters.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation also expressed condolences to the player’s family, friends, teammates and supporters.
Several prominent clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, joined the tributes.
Supporters gathered outside Tenerife’s Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium to pay their respects, leaving flowers and other tributes in memory of the striker.
According to Reuters, family members, teammates and football representatives gathered in Navahermosa, Toledo, on Thursday for his funeral.
The gathering reflected the extent of the loss within the football community.
Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, who was involved in the collision, has also been affected by the incident.
The tragedy has highlighted the emotional impact that serious on-field incidents can have on players on both sides of a match.
Why the AFE’s Request Matters
The request to suspend weekend fixtures is significant because it goes beyond postponing individual matches involving Tenerife or Andorra.
If approved, it could affect a much wider section of Spanish football, including domestic league competitions and potentially other scheduled fixtures.
The appeal also raises important questions about the responsibilities of football governing bodies towards players’ mental health and welfare.
Professional football involves significant physical demands, but the psychological consequences of traumatic events can be equally serious.
Allowing players time to grieve may help clubs and individuals process the tragedy before returning to competitive activities.
At the same time, any decision to suspend matches across multiple competitions would require coordination among the relevant governing bodies and consideration of the implications for the football calendar.
The situation demonstrates that sporting competitions are ultimately conducted by people whose welfare must remain central to decision-making.
What Happens Next?
As of Thursday, November 5, the AFE’s appeal for a wider suspension of weekend football fixtures remained the central issue awaiting a broader decision from the relevant authorities.
Some matches involving clubs directly affected by the tragedy had already been postponed, including Tenerife’s scheduled meeting with Granada and Andorra’s weekend fixture against Mallorca.
The RFEF had also suspended its cup competitions through November 5.
However, the wider request to suspend all weekend matches should not be confused with an officially confirmed nationwide shutdown of every football competition.
Football authorities will need to determine the extent of any additional postponements and communicate revised fixture arrangements.
Meanwhile, tributes to De Miguel are continuing, with his family, teammates and supporters mourning the loss of a player whose death has deeply affected Spanish football.
The tragedy has left the football community confronting an emotional reality that extends beyond league positions, trophies and competition schedules.
For the AFE, the message is that football should recognise the human cost of the tragedy and give those affected the opportunity to grieve.
The coming decisions will determine whether the appeal results in a wider suspension of Spanish football over the weekend.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Asociación de Futbolistas Españoles (AFE) – Official communication on the request to suspend weekend football fixtures, November 5, 2026.
- Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) – Official announcements on the suspension of football competitions following Jesús de Miguel’s death, November 3, 2026.
- Reuters – Report on the funeral of Jesús de Miguel and the postponement of affected football fixtures, November 5, 2026.
- EFE – Report on CD Tenerife’s request to postpone its match against Granada, November 4, 2026.
- RTVE – Report on the postponement of Granada CF versus CD Tenerife, November 4, 2026.
- The Guardian – Report on the death of Tenerife footballer Jesús de Miguel following an on-field collision, November 3, 2026.
