Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering well after being brought out of an induced coma following urgent abdominal surgery. The 27-year-old Nigerian underwent the life-saving procedure after colliding with the goalpost during Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City.
Despite the impact, Awoniyi initially continued playing but was later substituted—only after Forest had exhausted all available changes. He was rushed to the hospital on Monday and underwent a complex surgical procedure on Wednesday. The operation was successful, and he is now awake and surrounded by family.
In a statement, Nottingham Forest said, “The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first.”
Club Defends Owner Amid Controversy
The club also defended owner Evangelos Marinakis, who entered the pitch after the match—a move that drew criticism from pundits, including Sky Sports’ Gary Neville.
“His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own,” Forest stated. “There was no confrontation with [manager] Nuno or others.”
The club urged restraint from public figures in the wake of the incident:
“We ask former coaches, players, and commentators to resist the urge to rush to judgement or spread misinformation. Let concern come before commentary.”
Renewed Debate Over Officiating Rules
Awoniyi sustained the injury while chasing a cross from Anthony Elanga, who was in an offside position at the time. The incident has reignited discussion around the IFAB rule requiring officials to delay raising the offside flag during potential goal-scoring opportunities—a practice critics argue can increase the risk of injury.
