Togolese international footballer, Samuel Asamoah, has suffered a broken neck in a shocking accident during a football match in China, leaving him at risk of paralysis.

The incident occurred over the weekend when Asamoah, 31, who plays for Guangxi Pingguo, collided head-first with an advertising board during a league match against Chongqing Tonglianglong in the second tier of Chinese football.

According to reports, Asamoah sustained multiple fractures to his neck and suffered severe nerve damage after the crash. Medical personnel immediately attended to him on the pitch before rushing him to the hospital.

Doctors confirmed that while Asamoah is now in a stable condition, he faces a serious risk of high-level paraplegia, which could result in loss of sensation in his lower body.

In an official statement, Guangxi Pingguo FC said:

“Guangxi Pingguo FC sincerely thanks all fans from all walks of life for their concern and support for Samuel Asamoah. His recovery progress will be announced in due course after follow-up examinations.”

The frightening incident has reignited concerns about player safety and the positioning of pitch-side advertising hoardings, which have caused similar injuries in recent years.

Just last month, Billy Vigar, a 21-year-old former Arsenal academy player, tragically died after suffering a fatal brain injury from colliding with a wall during a non-league game in England.

Football figures, including Dorking Wanderers manager Mark White, have since called for an urgent review by football authorities to improve stadium safety and protect players from such avoidable dangers.