Togo’s Samuel Asamoah Suffers Broken Neck in China After Collision With Pitch-Side Billboard

Togolese international midfielder Samuel Asamoah has suffered a broken neck after crashing into a pitch-side advertising board during a league match in China, his club, Guangxi Pingguo FC, confirmed.

The 31-year-old was involved in a physical tussle for the ball during a China League One fixture on Sunday when an opposing player shoved him, causing him to collide head-first with an LED advertising panel positioned beside the pitch.

Guangxi Pingguo said Asamoah sustained multiple neck fractures and nerve damage as a result of the impact and underwent emergency surgery shortly afterward.

“He is at risk of high-level paraplegia and will miss the rest of the season. His professional career may also be in jeopardy,” the club said in a statement on Monday.

In an update on Wednesday, the club announced that Asamoah was stable and recovering from surgery. “Guangxi Pingguo FC sincerely thanks all fans and members of the public for their concern and support for Samuel Asamoah. Updates on his recovery will be shared after follow-up medical examinations,” the statement read.

Before joining the Chinese side in 2024, Asamoah spent much of his career playing in Belgium and has represented Togo six times at the international level, according to football statistics site Transfermarkt.

Meanwhile, Chinese football authorities told state-backed media outlet The Paper that the advertising board was positioned three metres from the field, consistent with international safety regulations.

The opposing player involved in the incident, Chongqing Tonglianglong’s Zhang Zhixiong, received a yellow card for his challenge.