Ban's left arm is in a sling and he would have to wear the cast for the next six weeks, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters at his daily briefing here yesterday.
The 67-year-old UN Chief suffered a "minor fracture in his left hand from a tumble while playing in the UN diplomats' spring soccer tournament over the weekend," Nesirky said, adding that Ban was "otherwise absolutely fine and in great spirits."
Ban had gone to see an orthopedic specialist on Saturday night after he was injured in the tournament at the Bel Aire Farm estate in New York state.
Ban, back recently from a trip to India and Myanmar, is known to find time to jog and take part in UN sports events.