Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi is currently in an induced coma following an operation on a significant abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City at the City Ground.
The 27-year-old Nigeria international collided forcefully with the goalpost in the 88th minute while attempting to reach a cross delivered by teammate Anthony Elanga. The incident occurred late in the match, where Awoniyi had come on as a substitute for Ibrahim Sangare.
He underwent surgery on Monday night and remains in hospital. Medical staff are scheduled to complete the second part of the procedure on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Nottingham Forest confirmed that Awoniyi is “recovering well” from the operation.
Offside decision questioned
Awoniyi’s injury has raised further scrutiny over current offside protocols. Elanga, who provided the cross, was in an offside position when he received the ball. However, the assistant referee did not immediately raise the flag, as per current officiating guidelines.
Officials are instructed to delay signaling offside when a potential scoring chance is developing. If a goal results, VAR may then review the situation. While this aims to ensure attacking plays are not wrongly stopped, critics argue it puts players at unnecessary risk.
Awoniyi required extensive treatment on the field before being taken off. The delayed call in this case has reignited debate around whether the practice prioritizes goals over safety.
Club owner expresses concern
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis entered the pitch post-match to speak directly with manager Nuno Espirito Santo about how the situation was managed.
Marinakis continues to receive regular updates on Awoniyi’s condition, according to club sources.
In a public statement, Forest emphasized that the injury serves as “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first.”
