Togolese international midfielder, Samuel Asamoah, has been hospitalised after suffering a broken neck during a league match in China.
The 31-year-old Guangxi Pingguo player sustained the severe injury on Sunday after crashing head-first into an LED advertising board during a domestic fixture against Chongqing Tonglianglong.
According to BBC Sport, the incident occurred when Asamoah was shoved by an opposing player, sending him forcefully into the barrier.
In a statement released on Monday, Guangxi Pingguo confirmed that Asamoah sustained multiple neck fractures and extensive nerve damage, putting him at risk of “high-level paraplegia” — a condition that results in the loss of movement in the lower body.
The club disclosed that the Togolese midfielder had undergone surgery and was in stable condition.
“His recovery progress will be announced in due course after follow-up examinations,” the club stated.
The referee, however, only issued a yellow card to Chongqing Tonglianglong midfielder Zhang Zhixiong for the shove that caused the collision — a decision that has sparked debate over disciplinary standards and player safety in the league.
Asamoah, who has six caps for Togo, spent most of his professional career in Belgium before moving to China in 2024.
His injury comes amid growing concerns about football safety following the tragic death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar last month. Vigar, who played for Chichester City FC, died after suffering a severe brain injury when he reportedly hit a pitch-side concrete wall during an Isthmian League Premier Division game.
Medical officials say Asamoah’s condition remains serious, though stable, as he continues to receive intensive care.
