Madibo’s suspension appears to be at the harsher end of the punishment scale.
At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez received a nine-match ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.
In 1994, Italy defender Mauro Tassotti was banned for eight games for elbowing Spain’s Luis Enrique, leaving the now-Paris St-Germain boss with a broken nose.
Former referee Christina Unkel said: “Respectfully, this is excessive. The outcome very unfortunate but the punishment does not fit the crime.
“This was not violent conduct and the challenge was an attempt to play [the] ball. This is too much.”
Under Fifa’s disciplinary code for violent conduct, Cristiano Ronaldo’s elbow last November would typically draw a three-match ban, which would have caused him to miss the opening games of this year’s tournament.
It was reduced to a one-game suspension, with the remaining two matches suspended for a year, meaning he was available for Portugal’s opening World Cup match against DR Congo.
BBC Sport understands that consideration was given to the fact it was Ronaldo’s first red card in 225 international appearances.
Qatar, already eliminated from the World Cup—so Madibo’s ban will carry into their next international fixtures—are expected to appeal Fifa’s decision.
Madibo, capped 64 times since his 2017 debut, had never been sent off at international level before his dismissal against Canada.
The 29-year-old has also shown genuine remorse, not only on the pitch in the aftermath, but by visiting Kone in hospital.