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Qatari player Assim Madibo was suspended five matches on Wednesday for the tackle that fractured the leg of Canadian midfielder Ismael Koné during 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 a serious criminal act and the decision was subject to appeal.
Canada’s first World Cup victory was overshadowed by the injury to Koné, who was carried off on a stretcher and later underwent surgery 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 was seriously injured as he lay on the ground, holding his leg and covering his mouth with his hand.
Madibo was also visibly upset and apologized to Koné in person after the match.
“You can’t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who has reached out to me and has me in their prayers,” Koné later posted on Instagram.
The Qatar national team did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
This ban is not the most important imposed by FIFA during a World Cup. Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has been suspended for nine matches and banned from all football-related activities for four months for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In 1994, Italian defender Mauro Tassotti was suspended eight matches for an elbow on Spanish striker Luis Enrique.
Associated Press reporting.
