Zidane 'deeply affected' by death of De Miguel after on-field collision

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 5: Zinedine Zidane Head Coach of France looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between France and Belgium at Stade de France on October 5, 2026 in Paris, France.
Catherine Steenkeste / Getty Images Sport / Getty

PARIS (AP) — France coach Zinedine Zidane paid tribute to a Spanish second-division player who died after an on-field collision and wished it will never happen again.

“I’m saddened by what happened, deeply affected,” Zidane said on Friday at his latest squad announcement for Nations League games. “It even gives me goosebumps, because you never want to see something like that on a football pitch.”

Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel died this week after suffering cardiac arrest following a collision with an opposing goalkeeper.

“Above all, I feel sad for the family,” Zidane added. “I hope I never see anything like that again on a football pitch for the rest of my life.”

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