Togo footballer Samuel Asamoah at risk of paralysis after breaking neck
By Agencies, October 9, 2025Togo midfielder Samuel Asamoah broke his neck in a collision with a pitch-side advertising board in China that his club says could leave him paralysed.
The 31-year-old, who plays for second-tier Chinese side Guangxi Pingguo, collided head-first with an LED advertising panel after being shoved by an opponent during a domestic match on Sunday.
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.
Chongqing Tonglianglong midfielder Zhang Zhixiong was given a yellow card for shoving Asamoah into the advertising board. 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.
Ex-Arsenal youth striker dies after injury during game
Chichester City FC and former Arsenal academy striker Billy Vigar recenlty died after sustaining a “significant brain injury”. Vigar, 21 and born in Worthing, was injured during a game at Wingate and Finchley on Saturday in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
It is thought the injury was caused when he collided with a concrete wall, but the club has not confirmed this. Vigar’s family said on Thursday they were “devastated that this has happened while he was playing the sport he loved”.
“After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put into an induced coma,” the family said.
“On Tuesday, he needed an operation to aid any chances of recovery. Although this helped, the injury proved too much for him and he passed away on Thursday morning.
“The responses to the original update show how much Billy was loved and thought of within the sport.”