Qatar player handed five-match ban after horror tackle that left Canada star with broken leg
Qatar’s Assim Madibo has been handed a five-match ban for his challenge on Canada’s Ismaël Koné that left him with a broken leg.
Canada was putting on an impressive display against Qatar on Thursday (18 June) in their second World Cup fixture and was 3-0 up when disaster struck.
A challenge from Madibo left Koné writhing in agony, and he had to be stretchered off the pitch, while the Qatar player was given a red card.
The shocking injury silenced the crowd, while Canada’s head coach Jesse Marsch said everyone on the bench 'could hear the bone snap'.
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Following the tackle, Madibo appeared to be distraught after realising how serious the situation was.
He also apologised for the incident, with Marsch explaining: “Let me be clear, the player apologised to Ismael, came into the dressing room and apologised to him and Ismael told the team that had happened.
"So I don’t think that he meant such a gruesome tackle or gruesome situation.
“But I don’t understand a reaction from their entire bench to try to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just happened that broke a player’s leg.”
Despite the horror injury and losing Koné, Canada went on to secure a 6-0 victory over Qatar, who were reduced to nine men.
Meanwhile, Koné required immediate medical attention and underwent surgery on the injured leg.
It’s since been announced that he sustained fractures to both the tibia and fibula bones in his lower left leg and will miss the rest of the tournament.
FIFA's disciplinary committee has now given Madibo a five-match ban for ‘serious foul play’.
The ban is subject to appeal.
How is Ismaël Koné after the horrific injury?
After being stabilised in the dressing room, Koné was rushed to hospital in Vancouver where he underwent surgery.
His World Cup is over, and he is expected to be sidelined for months.
In an Instagram post, the footballer wrote: "Your love and support has been felt, honestly thank you so much.
"You can't even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers.
"I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart and our brotherhood is everything to me.
"What you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever. I'll be back very soon and we'll keep making more memories together."
Topics: World Cup
Claire Reid