Heavy Sanction for Qatar Player After Foul on Kone

Qatari midfielder Assim Madibo has been handed a five-match ban after receiving a red card for a tackle that seriously injured Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone, FIFA announced. Qatar suffered a heavy 0-6 defeat to Canada in their second Group B match, during which Kone was forced off the pitch with a broken leg following Madibo's clumsy challenge in the second half.

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee imposed the five-match suspension for the offense, a decision that is subject to appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee. Kone has undergone surgery, and both Madibo and Qatar's Minister of Sports visited him in the hospital to check on his condition, according to the Qatar Football Association.

Qatar will play their final group stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the other group fixture at the same time sees Canada take on Switzerland.