Rayco García, the majority shareholder of CD Tenerife, has urged fans to come together to say goodbye to Jesús de Miguel, who died after suffering a serious injury during a match against FC Andorra. The incident occurred on Tuesday, and García expressed the profound sorrow felt by the club and its supporters, stating, “Tinerfeñismo is in mourning.”
García, visibly affected by the tragedy, described the situation as unprecedented, adding, “This is something we are facing for the first time, and it is very hard to accept.” He thanked the community for their support and confirmed that, at the family’s request, de Miguel’s body will be transported to Madrid between Wednesday and Thursday. The final farewell will take place in Navahermosa, Toledo, with the presence of the first team and club representatives.
The club has invited all supporters and the Tenerife community to gather at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium on Saturday at 18:00 for a collective tribute. “We would like to invite all our fans and the entire island to join us at six o'clock in the Heliodoro, where we will say our final goodbye together and unite our strength to move forward,” García stated.
CD Tenerife president Felipe Miñambres also expressed the club’s deep sorrow, acknowledging the unprecedented nature of the situation in football. He called for unity among the Tenerife family during this difficult time, saying, “It is a very sad day for all who feel the blanquiazul spirit. This is an experience that the football world has not encountered, where a player dies on the pitch.”
Miñambres highlighted the need for professional support and the backing of fans to help the team cope with the loss. “We will need professional help, but also the support of all our followers, as they share the same feelings we have today,” he explained.
He emphasised the importance of coming together to honour de Miguel’s memory, stating, “We will mourn, unite, and the people will come together around this sentiment, which will make us stronger. We must give him the tribute he deserves, and from there, we will always carry him in our hearts.”
The tragedy has led the club to request the postponement of their upcoming official matches in both LaLiga Hypermotion and the Copa del Rey. Miñambres confirmed discussions with LaLiga, and the club has received support from Granada regarding the postponement. Additionally, CD Tenerife plans to approach the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to request a similar delay for their match against Badajoz. The aim is to allow time for the team to grieve before resuming competition, likely with a match against Ceuta. “We need this time to recover as best we can,” the president concluded, stressing the importance of allowing players, coaching staff, and club personnel to process the loss that has shaken the entire organisation.
