FIFA has cracked the whip on some serious foul play. Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was handed a hefty five-match ban on Wednesday by soccer’s world governing body after a gruesome tackle that broke Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone’s leg during their World Cup group game.The 28-year-old Qatar player was shown a straight red card for the reckless challenge during Canada’s 6-0 win over Qatar at BC Place last Thursday. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee confirmed that the long ban was for serious play, adding that the decision is still subject to appeal.A tragic turn of eventsWhat should have been a historic night of celebration for Canada, marking its first World Cup victory, was completely overshadowed by Koné’s heartbreaking injury. The AC Milan midfielder was attacked from behind in the 51st minute, collapsing his left leg under the challenge.Players from both sides immediately flagged down panicked medical staff as Koné lay on the ground, covering his mouth in agony. The young midfielder was carried off on a stretcher and later underwent emergency surgery to repair fractures in the tibia and fibula of his left leg.A visibly distraught Madibo, who immediately realized the severity of the damage, went to apologize to Koné in person after the final whistle. The Canadian star later took to Instagram to thank fans, writing: “You can’t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and kept me in their prayers.”The strict precedentsWhile a five-match ban is rare in the tournament’s modern history, it is not the heaviest sanction imposed by FIFA. The all-time record remains with Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, who was hit with a massive nine-match ban and four-month football ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at Brazil 2014. Before that, Italian defender Mauro Tassotti received an eight-match suspension in 1994 for fracturing the Spanish striker’s nose with Luis Enrique’s elbow.The Qatar Football Association has yet to issue an official comment regarding the sentence, while Canada faces the sad reality of navigating the rest of its dream home World Cup campaign without its star midfield engine.