World Cup star handed five-match ban for horror challenge that broke opponent’s leg

Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo has been handed a five-match ban for his challenge on Canada’s Ismael Kone at the World Cup.

Madibo was sent off in Qatar’s 6-0 defeat to Canada last Thursday for a challenge that left Kone with a broken leg.

After realising the severity of the injury, Madibo was seen crying on the pitch and with his hands clasped behind his head as his teammates comforted him.

Players from both teams were left visibly distraught by the challenge with the Sassuolo midfielder left with fractures in both his tibia and fibula bones in his left leg.

Kone was immediately transferred to hospital in Vancouver where he underwent surgery. Madibo later visited him in hospital with the two sharing a picture together on social media.

Madibo was left out of the squad for Qatar’s final World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina with his nation eliminated from the competition at the group stage.

The FIFA disciplinary committee said the suspension was for serious foul play and that the decision was subject to appeal.

Canada manager Jesse Marsch described in horrific detail how he and his staff heard ‘the bone snap’ when Madibo’s challenge went in.

‘It happened right in front of the bench. We could all hear it. I knew right away,’ Marsch said.

‘It was right in front of us, and everyone could hear the bone snap.

‘Your heart goes out to [Kone], and everybody’s a little shaken by the whole experience, because of the nature of the injury, and also because Ismael is a big part of the heart of our team.

‘It will be a big loss for us. He’s been an amazing player these last two games.’

Canada meanwhile suffered defeat in their final group game against Switzerland but progress to the knockout stages of the competition as group runners up.