Michel Owono is confused with the Andorra goalkeeper: "I was covered in hate messages, but I am not Jesús Owono"

Michel Owono has faced a wave of hate, insults and various comments on his social media profiles. Due to a mistaken identity, some users have mistaken the CF Can Vidalet right-back for Andorran goalkeeper Jesús Owono, the perpetrator of the horrific on-field collision that killed Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel. “Murderer, criminal, shame on you.” These are just some of the comments that can be read under the first photos published on his Instagram profile.

Michel Owono plays in the Lliga Elite, which was originally called the Superlliga Catalana. It is the sixth level of Spanish football and the highest championship of the autonomous community of Catalonia. Moreover, he is not even a goalkeeper, unlike the Andorran goalkeeper. On the X platform, Michel Owono has made public the messages he has been receiving since yesterday evening, while Jesús Owono, the Andorran goalkeeper, has been forced to close his accounts. For this reason, Michel has been forced to publish a statement.

"First of all, I would like to express my deepest condolences for the death of the CD Tenerife player, Jesús de Miguel, after the serious tackle he suffered in the match against FC Andorra. My condolences to his family, loved ones and all his circle. In such difficult moments, all my support and affection are with them. Rest in peace, Jesús.

I also want to clarify that I AM NOT JESÚS OWONO and I have nothing to do with what happened. I am being confused because of my surname and, for this reason, I have received a large number of messages of hatred, racism, insults and threats, which deeply hurt me and I completely condemn them.

"We live in a society that is getting sicker every day, where racism, hatred and intolerance seem to be gaining ground. We cannot allow anyone to be judged, insulted or threatened for the color of their skin or their origin. Respect, empathy and humanity must be above all. Football should unite, not divide. Hatred, harassment and discrimination have no place anywhere, neither in sport nor in life," Michel stressed in his statement.

The club also wanted to support its own player, Michel Owono, who has no connection to the event: "CF Can Vidalet would like to express its support and solidarity for our player, who is receiving insults, threats and racist comments on social networks due to a misunderstanding regarding his identity. We would like to clarify that our player belongs to CF Can Vidalet and has no connection to the events surrounding him."

However, the comments do not seem to have stopped. Browsing Michel Owono's profile on Instagram, one can read comments of all kinds: "You should be arrested for what you did," one of them reads. "Murderer, you are an animal." Such phrases are directed at the footballer who has been confused with goalkeeper Jesús Owono, who plays for Andorra and was the protagonist of the fatal collision with Jesús de Miguel.

Michel's post, in which he sought to clarify the misunderstanding, has also brought a wave of messages of support for the footballer. Meanwhile, expressions of condolences continue for the death of Jesús de Miguel, an event that has deeply shaken Spanish football.