FIFA dish out five-match ban after Kone’s horror World Cup injury with Canada | OneFootball

It has been confirmed that Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo has been handed a five-match ban from international fixtures by FIFA after a challenge that left Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone with a fractured leg.

Madibo given five-match ban after horror Kone injury

Kone, who had been tipped for a big-money move away from Sassolo this summer, suffered a nasty fracture to his leg during an eventual 6-0 win for the Canada national team in their World Cup group stage match against Qatar.

The offender, Madibo, was originally shown a yellow card for his challenge, but this was later upgraded to a red after a VAR review. Madibo and Qatar’s Minister for Sport went to visit Kone in hospital shortly after the incident occurred.

It has since been confirmed that Madibo will be banned for five international matches as a result of the challenge.

It was a horrible injury for Kone to suffer, but there has still been some criticism over the severity of the punishment handed out to Madibo.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 18: #8 of Canada waves to crowd as he is stretched off after being fouled by Assim Madibo #23 of Qatar during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Canada and Qatar at BC Place Vancouver on June 18, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

The Athletic have labelled the five-match ban ‘absurd’, suggesting that “FIFA reacted to the result of (Madibo’s) foul on Kone, not the foul itself.”

It wasn’t the best challenge by any means, but the general consensus is that Madibo was not intentionally trying to endanger his opponent, just that he made a poorly-timed and poorly-judged tackle. The Qatari midfielder had his head in his hands and appeared genuinely distraught upon seeing the extent of Kone’s injury.