FIFA suspends Madibo for five games after serious injury to Koné
Qatar midfielder punished for violent entry into the 2026 World Cup. Canada loses Koné for the rest of the tournament.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed a five-game suspension on Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo following a violent tackle on Canadian Ismaël Koné during the 2026 World Cup. The move, initially punished with a yellow card, was reviewed by VAR and resulted in Madibo's expulsion. FIFA considered that the tackle caused a serious injury to Koné's left leg, ruling him out of the rest of the competition.
The sanction, which begins to be enforced immediately, is one of the heaviest in the history of the World Cup and underlines FIFA's firmness in protecting the physical integrity of the players. Qatar can still appeal the decision, but the suspension already affects the team's squad for the next games of the tournament. Historically, suspensions for violent tackles at World Cups have ranged from two to four games, making the five games handed down to Madibo a rare precedent and a demonstration of zero tolerance.
