Qatar’s Assim Madibo banned for 5 games after breaking leg of Canada’s Ismaël Koné at World Cup
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Qatar's Assim Madibo (23) leaves the field after he was issued a red card for fouling Canada's Ismaël Koné, who receives medical attention in the background, during the World Cup Group B football match against Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Canada's Ismaël Koné, left, falls while being fouled by Qatar's Assim Madibo during the World Cup Group B football match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
ATLANTA (AP) — Qatar player Assim Madibo was given a five-match ban on Wednesday for the tackle that broke the leg of Canada midfielder Ismaël Koné at the World Cup.
Madibo was issued a straight red card for the incident during Canada’s 6-0 victory over Qatar in Vancouver last Thursday.
The FIFA disciplinary committee said the suspension was for serious foul play and that the decision was subject to appeal.
Canada’s first World Cup victory was overshadowed by the injury to Koné, who was taken off on a stretcher and later underwent surgery on a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg.
He was tackled from behind in the 51st minute, and players around him immediately feared he had sustained a serious injury as he lay on the ground, holding his leg and covering his mouth with his hand.
Madibo was also visibly upset and apologised in person to Koné after the game.
“You can’t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers,” Koné later posted on Instagram.
The Qatar national team did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.
The ban is not the biggest issued by FIFA at a World Cup.
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was given a nine-match suspension and banned from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In 1994, Italy defender Mauro Tassotti was suspended for eight games for an elbow on Spain forward Luis Enrique.
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