Togolese football star, Samuel Asamoah, is at risk of paraplegia after breaking his neck during a mid-game collision with an advertising board in China.

On Sunday, Oct. 5, Asamoah’s team, Guangxi Pingguo Football Club, was playing against Chongqing Tonglianglong in China’s second-tier League One when the accident occurred.

Midfielder Asamoah, 31, collided headfirst with an LED advertising panel after being shoved by opponent Zhang Zhixiong, Asamoah suffered multiple fractures in his neck as the offending player only got a yellow card.

On Monday, Guangxi Pingguo said Asamoah was at risk of “high-level paraplegia” after suffering multiple fractures in his neck and sustaining extensive nerve damage.

Paraplegia is a term used to describe the inability to voluntarily move the lower parts of the body.

The club have since confirmed that Asamoah underwent surgery and is in a stable condition.

“His recovery progress will be announced in due course after follow-up examinations,” the club said.

Asamoah, who spent most of his career in Belgium before moving to China in 2024, has six caps for Togo.

Former Arsenal academy striker Billy Vigar died last month after sustaining a “significant brain injury”.

The 21-year-old was injured playing for Chichester City FC in a game in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

It is thought the injury was caused when he collided with a pitch-side concrete wall, but the club has not confirmed this.