Club Criticizes Medical Response Amid Backlash Over Injury Handling
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is fighting to recover after being placed in an induced coma following emergency surgery for a severe abdominal injury. The 26-year-old Nigerian international was hurt during a dramatic late attempt to score a winner in Forest’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester last weekend.
The incident occurred when Awoniyi collided with the goalpost while chasing a loose ball. Despite receiving extensive on-field treatment, he was forced to play on because Forest had already used all three substitutions.
His condition worsened after the match, leading to his hospitalization and immediate surgery on Monday.
The situation has sparked controversy, with many questioning why Awoniyi was allowed to continue playing. Fans and pundits have also criticized the officiating, as the striker was in an offside position before the collision—though referees followed protocol by delaying the flag until play stopped.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen speaking with manager Nuno Espírito Santo after the match, fueling rumors of a disagreement. However, the club has dismissed these claims as “fake news,” insisting Marinakis was only concerned for Awoniyi’s well-being.
In a strongly worded statement, Forest condemned the medical team’s decision to let Awoniyi play on, calling it a “shared frustration” and emphasizing that player safety should always come first. The club also slammed the media and former players for spreading “baseless and ill-informed outrage” without knowing the full story.
“At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and staff must always take precedence—over media narratives, inflammatory judgments, and certainly over self-promotion,” the statement read.
As Awoniyi remains in critical condition, the football community rallies behind him, hoping for his swift recovery. Meanwhile, the incident has reignited debates over player welfare and the pressures of in-game decision-making.
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