RFEF postpones cup fixtures after Jesús de Miguel’s death
The Royal Spanish Football Federation has postponed Tuesday’s Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina fixtures following the death of Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel, with revised dates to be announced.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has postponed all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches scheduled for November 3 as a mark of respect following the death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel.The decision affects fixtures in the first round of the men’s competition and the third round of the women’s tournament, requiring clubs and organisers to rearrange the scheduled ties.The RFEF said: “Following the confirmation of the death of Jesús de Miguel, a player for CD Tenerife, and as a sign of respect and solidarity, the RFEF has decreed the suspension of the matches scheduled for this Tuesday, November 3, corresponding to the first and third rounds of the Copa del Rey Mapfre and Copa de la Reina Iberdrola, respectively.”De Miguel died on Tuesday morning after being taken to hospital following a collision during Tenerife’s second-division match against Andorra on Monday.Tenerife confirmed his death in a statement expressing support for his family and asking that their privacy be respected.The club said: “There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness.“We stand alongside his devastated family, alongside his loved ones, alongside all of tinerfenismo that today weeps for this cruel outcome.“The family of Jesús de Miguel thanks each and every one of the expressions of support received, and likewise requests, from the heart, the utmost respect for their privacy in these terrible moments.”The federation also cancelled the official presentation of Spain Under-21s’ forthcoming match against Japan, which had been due to take place in Almendralejo, in the province of Badajoz.That cancellation concerns the presentation event, rather than confirmation that the international fixture itself has been postponed.The RFEF extended its condolences to De Miguel’s family, teammates and loved ones, alongside the wider Tenerife community.Replacement dates and kick-off times for the affected cup fixtures will be announced in the coming days, leaving clubs awaiting confirmation before finalising revised match arrangements.The postponements cover the Tuesday programme in the two named cup competitions, rather than establishing a wider suspension of Spanish football beyond those fixtures.The immediate operational task for the federation and participating clubs is to find new dates within their existing schedules and communicate the changes to supporters and other matchday stakeholders.