Togo’s Samuel Asamoah suffers broken neck in freak on-field accident in China
Togo international Samuel Asamoah is facing the prospect of paralysis after a horrific accident during a domestic match in China.
The 31-year-old Guangxi Pingguo midfielder collided head-first with an LED advertising board after being pushed by an opponent during a second-tier league game on Sunday.
His club said Asamoah sustained multiple neck fractures and severe nerve damage, describing his condition as carrying a “risk of high-level paraplegia.”
Doctors performed emergency spinal surgery, and Guangxi Pingguo confirmed on Monday that Asamoah is now in a stable condition.
“His recovery progress will be announced after follow-up examinations,” the team said.
The opposing player, Zhang Zhixiong of Chongqing Tonglianglong, received only a yellow card for the shove that caused the collision, prompting debate among fans online.
Asamoah, capped six times for Togo, previously played in Belgium before moving to China in 2024.
His injury comes just weeks after former Arsenal academy forward Billy Vigar died following a similar pitch-side collision in England.
Asamoah spent most of his career in Belgium before moving to China last year.
He has played six times for Togo, according to football statistics website transfermarkt.com.
Citing Chinese football authorities, state-backed outlet The Paper said the advertising display was
positioned three metres from the field in line with international standards.
positioned three metres from the field in line with international standards.
