Published on 6/19/2026
The serious injury suffered by Canadian player Ismail Kone during the match against Qatar in the 2026 World Cup sparked a state of shock inside and outside the field, not only because of the seriousness of the injury, but also because the player appeared to be putting a strange green object in his mouth while being transported off the field.
Kone, the Italian Sassuolo player, fell to the ground after an intervention by Qatari Assem Madibo, and it later became clear that he had suffered a serious fracture in his right leg. While the cameras were watching the moments of his transportation on the stretcher, the appearance of what some described as the “green whistle” caught the attention of the fans, which opened the door to a wave of speculation on social media.
Some users circulated incorrect hypotheses claiming that the device contained nitrous oxide or strong narcotic substances such as fentanyl, but the truth was completely different. The tool Kony used was a Penthrox inhaler, a fast-acting analgesic usually used in emergency situations and severe injuries to relieve acute pain before transporting the injured person to the hospital.
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This drug is commonly used by ambulance and emergency teams in the Canadian province of British Columbia, where the match was held. It is given to the injured person through inhalation to help him endure the severe pain during the first minutes after the injury.
The medical staff resorting to this type of painkiller reflects the extent of the suffering that the Canadian player experienced at the moment of injury.
Canada coach Jesse Marsh said that the players and technical staff heard the sound of the break from the field, in a scene he described as extremely painful.
Despite the cruelty of the shot, Qatari player Asim Madibo was keen to visit Kony and apologize to him after the match, in a move that received wide praise within the Canadian camp.
