Taiwan Awoniyi: Nottingham Forest striker caused coma after abdominal surgery due to injury against Leicester | Football News

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi fell into a coma in the hospital after an emergency abdominal surgery.

There is no suggestion that the 27-year-old's condition is life-threatening, and it is understood that coma will help limit his movements and regulate his heart rhythm.

Awoniyi's intestine ruptured after colliding with the post in a 2-2 draw with Leicester on Sunday.

The striker received a lengthy treatment after his injury, but then tried to continue the game despite the obvious discomfort, requiring emergency abdominal surgery on Tuesday.

Awoniyi was taken to the hospital on Monday night after further investigation by Forest medical staff revealed how serious his condition was.

Forest said Awoniyi “recovered well so far” on Tuesday after his surgery.

Offside controversy surrounding Awoniyi

The Awoniyi incident reignited the debate over the offside rules of football as Anthony Elanga provided a pass for the Forest striker’s efforts to reach post-posts – apparently offside, but not marked to stop the game.

Assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis lowered her flag to the IFAB rule that states delayed the flag is Only allowable in very clear offenses if the player is about to score or score/definitely scored into the opponent's free throw area.

PGMOL is responsible for the refereeship laws of the Premier League and uses IFAB's directives in terms of VAR protocols – thinking that assistants can 100% believe that players are offside and they can raise the flag. However, if there is any doubt, they will lower the flag.

“You see her (Massey-Ellis) explaining to the (Leicester) goalkeeper, even though he asked her why she wasn't marked.

“You can clearly see her saying that the higher the distance he is, it’s not enough, I have to hold my flag. It’s not the law – it’s the directive.

“The law is offside, but the assistant's instructions are because we have var, if he put it in the net, please don't lift the flag as early as possible and you can go back and check it.”

One of the benefits of this policy is to stop effective goals excluded by early flag errors and help mitigate human errors. It has been in the Premier League since 2021, and while events like Awoniyi are rare, the injury of the Forest striker has sparked a conversation about the ruling.

There are calls around the Premier League to delay the flag in a clear offside situation.

Speech Referee watchStephen Warnock said: “It must be common sense, and common sense must start at some point.

“Common sense tells you: three to four yards, raise the flag, stop these things from happening. I didn't go to Sian Massey-Ellis, I'm talking about rulemakers.

“If it's two to three yards (offside), and there's something in your mind: offside or isn't it? I'm not sure here. Then, keep the flag, I understand that.

“But? Just raise your flag.”

Manchester City defender John Stones was injured during the game stage and was later “excluded from offside” in December 2023, prompting an angry response from Pep Guardiola.

He said: “I don't understand. Obviously, offside, now he's hurt. They said 'You're right, you're right… but it's too late. It's not them (officials), the rules come from the big boss… but I don't understand.”

During the season's opening weekend, Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson showed up with the fourth official while he was clearly offside. Gary Neville complained about his offside process at the joint trial “14 days.”

Warnock added in his speech again during referee viewing this week: “We are studying (Awoniyi incident) and go: Is this what we have been waiting for? Is it something that needs to change the rules?

“Because we've all been talking about collision A for so many years and the assistant referee said, 'By the way, that's offside'. We all know that's, why don't you make this decision?”

Forest: “The frustration of the medical team allowing Awoniyi to play”

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis Come on the court and talk to the head coach Nuno Espiritio Santo After the match, the club said it was frustration at Awoniyi being allowed to play, which hurt their Champions League hopes.

Forest said in a strong statement: “The fact is that there is no confrontation with Nuno or anyone else, either on the court or in the stadium.

“There is only a common sense of frustration between us and the medical team should never let the players continue.”