Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been brought out of an induced coma after undergoing emergency abdominal surgery earlier this week. The 27-year-old Nigerian international sustained a severe injury during Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Awoniyi collided with the goalpost while attempting to connect with a cross from Anthony Elanga, resulting in a suspected ruptured intestine.
Injury and Immediate Response
The incident occurred in the 88th minute of the match. Despite receiving on-field treatment, Awoniyi continued to play for the remaining minutes, as Forest had exhausted their substitutions. He was later hospitalized, and on Monday, May 12, underwent the first phase of surgery to address the abdominal injury. To aid his recovery, he was placed in an induced coma, a standard medical procedure to stabilize patients after major surgeries.
The second phase of the surgical procedure was completed on Wednesday, May 14. Following this, Awoniyi was successfully brought out of the induced coma in the early evening. While the club has not yet issued an official statement, reports indicate that he is recovering well.
Controversy Surrounding the Incident
The circumstances leading to Awoniyi’s injury have sparked discussions regarding the current offside protocols in football. In the buildup to the incident, Elanga was in an offside position, but the assistant referee delayed raising the flag, adhering to the protocol introduced in the 2020-21 season. This rule mandates officials to delay offside decisions to avoid wrongly disallowing goals. Critics argue that this approach can lead to unnecessary and dangerous play continuing, potentially resulting in serious injuries.
Forest defender Ola Aina expressed his concerns, stating, “Anthony was miles offside. The whole world could see and so could I from where I was. You think ‘offside’ straight away. Surely you could just lift the flag up? None of this would have happened to ‘T’ if the flag had just gone up, would it?”
Club’s Internal Investigation
In response to the incident, Nottingham Forest has initiated an internal investigation into the handling of Awoniyi’s injury. Club owner Evangelos Marinakis was reportedly upset that Awoniyi was allowed to continue playing after the collision. He has demanded a full review involving the club’s medical staff and coaching personnel. The club emphasized that player safety is a top priority and criticized the decision to let Awoniyi continue playing.
What’s Next
Awoniyi’s recovery is ongoing, and while there is optimism about his return to full health, the timeline for his return to the pitch remains uncertain. The incident has highlighted the importance of player safety and the need to reassess certain protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As Nottingham Forest prepares for their upcoming matches, the team and fans alike are hopeful for Awoniyi’s swift and complete recovery. The club’s commitment to addressing the situation and ensuring the well-being of its players remains paramount.
