FIFA set to pay Sassuolo nearly £500,000 after Kone's broken leg at World Cup

FIFA are set to pay Sassuolo close to £480,000 in compensation after Canada midfielder Ismael Kone sustained a broken left leg during his country’s 6-0 victory over Qatar at the World Cup. The injury was caused by a mistimed challenge from Qatar’s Assim Madibo, who was shown a straight red card and later apologised.

Kone subsequently underwent surgery, with both the Canadian FA and Sassuolo confirming the operation was a success. “The operation to repair the fracture in his left leg was a complete success,” read a joint statement. “The player will begin his rehabilitation programme in the coming days.”

FIFA’s Club Protection Programme exists to compensate clubs whose players are injured while on international duty. To qualify, the injury must rule a player out for more than 28 days — a threshold Kone’s fracture is expected to comfortably exceed. Based on his reported weekly wage of approximately £3,200 at Sassuolo, a 150-day absence would trigger a payout of around £480,000, though the final figure could rise further depending on the length of his recovery.

Kone himself addressed the injury on social media, striking a defiant and faith-driven tone. “ALLAH has never failed me. Throughout my life, not even once. So why doubt him now?” he wrote. “This battle is a test to my faith in him and to my character. And honestly I’m ready for it.”

The 23-year-old also sent a message to his Canada teammates, who continue in the tournament without him. “As I turned myself into assistant coach to support you from the sideline, I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “I’ll be back very soon and we’ll keep making more memories together.”

Canada will now navigate the remainder of the World Cup without one of their key midfielders, while FIFA processes what is set to be one of the more significant Club Protection Programme payouts of the tournament.