During Canada and Qatar\u2019s World Cup matchup on June 18, Canadian midfielder Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 suffered a \u201cgruesome\u201d leg injury that left him being stretchered off the pitch, dampening Canada\u2019s first-ever World Cup victory.<\/p>\n
Within the 51st minute of the match, Kon\u00e9 received a pass from teammate Jonathan David. As soon as Kon\u00e9 received the ball, Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo fought for possession, and in the method struck Kon\u00e9\u2019s leg, leading to an audible crack.<\/p>\n
Canadian and Qatari soccer players needed to be separated as arguing ensued.<\/p>\n
Kon\u00e9 was carted off the sphere on a stretcher, waving to the group inside Vancouver\u2019s BC Place and hugging his teammates and Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch. The incident left players and coaches on each teams visibly affected.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt happened right in front of the bench. We could all hear it. I knew immediately,\u201d Marsch said Thursday night. \u201cIt was right in front of us, and everybody could hear the bone snap.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Marsch spoke to reporters Friday afternoon and confirmed that Kon\u00e9 suffered a tibia and fibula fracture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u00a0<\/em>did the surgery last night [\u2026] and the doctor said it went perfectly,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been an incredible player, perhaps our greatest player within the tournament to this point after which and he\u2019s also a giant personality within the group, so we\u2019ll manage it, but it surely won\u2019t be easy.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Canadian Nathan Saliba replaced Kon\u00e9 within the lineup and scored within the sixty fourth minute, celebrating the goal by holding up Kon\u00e9\u2019s jersey, leading to thunderous cheers from the group.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tTHE CANADIAN PRESS\/Darryl Dyck\t\t\t\t<\/cite> Kon\u00e9 posted to his Instagram account Friday morning, thanking the team and fans for his or her support.<\/p>\n Story continues below commercial<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cYour love and support has been felt, truthfully thanks a lot,\u201d he wrote. \u201cYou possibly can\u2019t even imagine, how grateful I’m to everyone who reached out and that has me of their prayers. I thank God for that because not everyone seems to be this fortunate.<\/p>\n Get every day Canada news delivered to your inbox so you may never miss the day’s top stories.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cTo Canadian brothers, as I turned myself into assistant coach to support you from the sideline. I wanted you to know that I like you guys from the underside of my heart and our brotherhood is all the pieces to me. What you guys did yesterday will stick with me endlessly. I\u2019ll be back very soon and we\u2019ll keep making more memories together.\u201d<\/p>\n Madibo, who was visibly in tears following the play, was initially given a yellow card for his foul. An extra review determined the violation was committed with intent and the penalty was elevated to a red card. Madibo was ejected from the sport because of this and shall be suspended from Qatar\u2019s June 24 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n Marsch also stated in a media availability following Thursday\u2019s match that Madibo got here by the Canadian locker room to apologize for the play.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me be clear, the player apologized to Isma\u00ebl, like got here into the dressing room and apologized to him, and Isma\u00ebl told the team or let the team know that that had happened,\u201d Marsch said. \u201cSo, I don\u2019t think that he meant such a gruesome tackle or a gruesome situation. I don\u2019t fault him for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tCanada\u2019s Nathan Saliba (25) holds up injured teammate Ismael Kone\u2019s jersey after scoring against Qatar in the course of the second half of a World Cup Group B soccer match, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026.\t\t\t\t<\/span>
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