Madibo receives five-game FIFA ban over tackle that injured Kone
FIFA punished Qatar’s Assim Madibo for serious foul play after Canada’s Ismael Kone suffered a broken left leg at the World Cup.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
FIFA has suspended Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo for five matches over the challenge that left Canada midfielder Ismael Kone with a broken left leg at the World Cup. The ban removes Madibo from Qatar’s remaining tournament matches and adds a disciplinary ruling to an injury that marred Canada’s 6-0 win in Vancouver.
The FIFA disciplinary committee said the sanction, announced Wednesday, was for serious foul play and can be appealed, according to Al Jazeera, AP and Reuters. Madibo was sent off with a direct red card during Qatar’s match against Canada last Thursday.
Al Jazeera, AP and Reuters reported that the suspension included Qatar’s Wednesday match at Seattle Stadium, where Bosnia and Herzegovina beat the 2022 World Cup hosts 3-1. The ruling also covers any other World Cup matches left for Qatar.
Kone was injured in the 51st minute after being challenged from behind, according to Al Jazeera, AP and Reuters. He was removed on a stretcher and later had surgery for fractures to the tibia and fibula in his left leg.
Players nearby reacted immediately as Kone lay on the field holding his leg and covering his mouth, Al Jazeera, AP and Reuters reported. As he was taken away, Kone sat upright on the stretcher and waved to supporters while the crowd at BC Place applauded him.
Canada’s win was the country’s first at a World Cup, according to Al Jazeera. Nathan Saliba, who came on for Kone and later scored Canada’s fourth goal, ran to the sideline during his celebration to lift a replica Canada shirt bearing Kone’s No. 8.
Madibo appeared distressed after the tackle, crying on the field with his hands behind his head as Qatar teammates tried to console him, Al Jazeera, AP and Reuters reported. Canada coach Jesse Marsch later said at a news conference that Madibo went to Canada’s dressing room after the match to apologize to Kone in person.
Kone later thanked supporters in an Instagram post. “You can’t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers,” he wrote.
The Qatar Football Association said Madibo and Qatar’s sports minister visited Kone after the injury to check on him. The federation said they were received by the president of the Canadian Soccer Association and described the visit as a sign of sportsmanship and strong relations away from the field.
The Qatar Football Association also released photos from the visit, including one showing Kone, in a wheelchair, hugging Madibo while both wore national team jerseys. Kone later watched from the sideline as Canada lost 2-1 to Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera.
Madibo’s punishment is below some of the longest World Cup suspensions issued by FIFA. Al Jazeera, AP and Reuters noted that Uruguay forward Luis Suarez received a nine-match ban and a four-month prohibition from all football-related activity for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in 2014, while Italy defender Mauro Tassotti was banned for eight games for elbowing Spain’s Luis Enrique in 1994.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.