FIFA announced Wednesday that Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo has been suspended for five matches after being shown a red card for a tackle that left Canada midfielder Ismael Kone with a serious leg injury.
The match, a Group B contest, ended in a lopsided 6-0 victory for Canada. The damaging tackle came in the second half, when Madibo’s clumsy challenge resulted in Kone suffering a broken leg.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee handed down the five-match ban, citing serious foul play as the basis for the punishment. The ruling can be challenged through the FIFA Appeal Committee if either party chooses to contest it.
Kone underwent surgery following the injury. In a show of concern, Madibo and Qatar’s sports minister traveled to the hospital to check on Kone’s condition, according to the Qatar Football Association.
Both teams are set to wrap up their group stage play later Wednesday, with Qatar facing Bosnia and Herzegovina and co-host Canada squaring off against Switzerland.
