Togolese international footballer Samuel Asamoah, 31, broke his neck and sustained nerve damage after a collision with a pitch-side LED advertising board during a Chinese second-tier League One fixture on Sunday, according to his club, Guangxi Pingguo.
Video footage of the incident shows Asamoah being shoved by an opponent while jostling for the ball, which caused him to plough head-first into the advertising panel. The opposition player, Chongqing Tonglianglong midfielder Zhang Zhixiong, received a yellow card.
Following the accident, the midfielder underwent surgery. Guangxi Pingguo confirmed on Monday that Asamoah is at risk of “high-level paraplegia” and his career “may also be seriously affected,” adding he will miss all remaining games this season.
By Wednesday, the club provided an update, stating Asamoah was recovering from the surgery and was in a stable condition. Guangxi Pingguo FC extended its thanks for the public’s concern, stating, “His recovery progress will be announced in due course after follow-up examinations.”
The advertising display was positioned three metres from the field, which Chinese football authorities cited by state-backed outlet The Paper said was in line with international standards.
Asamoah, who has six caps for Togo, spent the majority of his professional career in Belgium before moving to China last year.
Togolese footballer Samuel Asamoah of Guangxi Pingguo fractured his cervical vertebrae and risks paralysis after a bodycheck sent him crashing into an LED screen during a Chinese League One match against Chongqing Tonglianglong, his club reports.
pic.twitter.com/06C1SV31AW— All Sportz 🏀⚽ (@Allsportztv) October 9, 2025
