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Qatari player Assim Madibo received a five-match ban on Wednesday for the tackle that broke the leg of Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone at the World Cup.
Madibo received a straight red card for the incident during Canada’s 6-0 win over Qatar in Vancouver last Thursday.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee said the suspension was due to serious foul play and the decision was subject to appeal.
Canada’s first victory in a World Cup was overshadowed by the injury of Koné, who was taken off on a stretcher and subsequently operated on for a fractured tibia and fibula in his left leg.
He was tackled from behind in the 51st minute and players around him immediately feared he had suffered 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 apologized in person to Koné after the match.
“You can’t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and has me in their prayers,” Koné later posted on Instagram.
The Qatar team did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
The sanction is not the largest imposed by FIFA in a World Cup. Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez was suspended for nine games and suspended from all football-related activities for four months for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In 1994, Italian defender Mauro Tassotti was suspended for eight games for elbowing Spanish forward Luis Enrique.
Information from The Associated Press.
