Physiotherapist Antonio Perez has called for a change to football's rules that would allow medical staff to enter the pitch without waiting for the referee's permission following the tragic death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel. De Miguel died from 'accidental chest trauma', according to a preliminary autopsy report, after suffering a heavy collision during a match against FC Andorra.
The Incident and Aftermath
The incident occurred in the 97th minute as De Miguel sprinted towards the ball. Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono rushed out of his area in an attempt to clear it but collided with the striker, striking him forcefully in the chest.
Owono was sent off, while De Miguel received treatment on the pitch before suffering a cardiac arrest. The striker was rushed by ambulance to Hospital Universitario de Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, where doctors initially managed to stabilise his condition.
However, he tragically died on Tuesday morning. The match was abandoned following the incident, while the Royal Spanish Football Federation suspended all fixtures until Friday.
Physio's Plea for Change
Perez has since taken to social media to offer his condolences to De Miguel's family and highlight what he believes must change in football to better protect players. In a video, the physiotherapist urged authorities to reconsider rules governing how quickly medical personnel can respond to emergencies on the pitch.
He said: "There is a rule in football that needs to change: as a professional, as a medical practitioner, I should be able to step in at the slightest sign of concern."
"'Get up already!' - a phrase I heard so often while working on the pitch. Yesterday, Jesus de Miguel did not get up. And I want you to look closely at the play. More than 10 seconds pass from the moment of the unfortunate collision until medical staff arrive."
"This is because the referee chooses to issue a red card before attending to the player. The more time that passes, the lower the likelihood of recovery. This applies not only to cardiac events but also to more common types of concussions, such as head concussions."
Rugby Comparison
"The thing is, I've spent the last two years working in rugby. In rugby, if I see a potentially serious incident on the field, I can go straight onto the pitch without needing anyone's permission. In football, the referee has to notice the situation and initiate the protocol."
"While there are plenty of cameras in the top two divisions, that is not the case in other tiers. As a physiotherapist or doctor in football, I should be able to enter the pitch the moment I suspect something is wrong. In Jesus's case, the details are not fully known, and rightly so, as they have not disclosed much information."
Perez believes that this event could serve as a turning point to prevent the recurrence of a tragedy of similar magnitude. "There are many other instances where the reluctance to stop the game leads to a worse prognosis and a more tragic outcome," he added.
"In football, health should take precedence over the spectacle. I truly hope they take this step forward," he concluded, while also offering his support to Jesus's family and wishing him eternal rest.
Alongside the video, Perez wrote: "They need to change this rule. Having been involved in rugby for so long, I'll never understand why football doesn't follow suit, given how serious a problem the time that elapses after a concussion is."
"It shouldn't depend on a referee – who's juggling a thousand things – noticing it; that just shows that the focus is still more on the spectacle than on health. Jesus's case is a private matter and must remain so; that's what cardiologists are for. May he rest in peace, and a huge hug to his family and loved ones."
