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Togolese international midfielder Samuel Asamoah suffered a broken neck and nerve damage after crashing head-first into a pitch-side LED advertising board during a league match in China, his club confirmed, sparking fears he may be left paralysed.
The 31-year-old Guangxi Pingguo player was shoved by an opponent while competing for the ball in a China League One fixture on Sunday, causing him to collide violently with the electronic advertising panel.
In a statement, the club said Asamoah had sustained severe neck fractures and nerve damage, warning that he was “at risk of high-level paraplegia” and would miss the rest of the season. “His career may also be seriously affected,” the club added.
After undergoing emergency surgery, Guangxi Pingguo said on Wednesday that the midfielder was in stable condition. “Guangxi Pingguo FC sincerely thanks all fans and members of the public for their concern and support for Samuel Asamoah. His recovery progress will be announced in due course after follow-up examinations,” the statement said.
Asamoah, who joined the Chinese club last year, previously played most of his career in Belgium and has represented Togo six times at the international level, according to football statistics site Transfermarkt.
Chinese football authorities told state-backed media outlet The Paper that the advertising board was positioned three metres from the touchline, in line with international safety standards.
The opposing player, Chongqing Tonglianglong midfielder Zhang Zhixiong, was booked for his involvement in the incident.
