Guangxi Pingguo midfielder Samuel Asamoah fights for his life after he sustained a horrific neck injury during a Chinese League One match.
Chongqing Tonglianglong’s Zhang Zhixiong pushed the Togolese footballer heavily, causing him to crash headfirst into an advertising board during Sunday’s fixture.
Video footage shows the disturbing moment Zhang Zhixiong shoved the 31-year-old from behind, sending him crashing into the hoardings at full speed.
“Following detailed diagnosis by an expert medical team and hospital personnel. Asamoah has been diagnosed with displacement and fractures of the C2 to C6 vertebrae in his neck. Resulting in a C5-C6 vertebral compression fracture,” his club confirmed in a statement.
“The injury also compresses nerves, posing a risk of high-level paraplegia. He will miss all remaining matches this season, and the damage may severely impact his professional career.”
The referee committee of the Chinese Football Association later reviewed the case and described Zhang’s challenge as “reckless” but not severe enough for a red card.
Chongqing led 1-0 at the time of the incident but went on to win 2-1.
Asamoah, who played for Qingdao Red Lions before joining Guangxi this season, serves as a key figure for Togo’s national team.
The injury has deepened growing concerns about player safety in Chinese football.
This latest development follows the death of 19-year-old Guo Jiaxuan earlier this year after he collided headfirst during a game in Madrid.
