How referee delay sent Awoniyi to coma

Super eagles striker

Forest striker sustains injury chasing a late cross

Super Eagles forward, Taiwo Awoniyi, is currently in hospital after suffering a serious injury during a Premier League clash.

The 27-year-old collided with the post in the 88th minute while chasing a cross from teammate Anthony Elanga.

The incident occurred during Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Sunday at the City Ground.

Awoniyi came in as a substitute for Ibrahim Sangare late in the second half of the tense encounter.

He received prolonged medical attention on the pitch before being stretchered off amid visible concern from teammates and officials.

According to Nottingham Forest, the striker underwent an initial surgery on Monday night to stabilise the injury.

The club revealed that the remaining phase of the operation is scheduled to be completed on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Forest confirmed that Awoniyi is “recovering well” following the medical procedure.

Controversy Trails Officiating Protocol

The incident has sparked fresh debate over current officiating protocols surrounding offside calls in English football.

Elanga, who delivered the cross, was in an offside position when he received the ball during the build-up.

However, the assistant referee delayed raising the flag until after Awoniyi’s collision with the post occurred.

Under current rules, assistant referees must wait if a clear goalscoring opportunity is in progress.

This is to allow VAR to later review and determine if the goal should stand or not.

While intended to prevent wrongful disallowing of goals, critics argue it places players at unnecessary risk of injury.

Several football analysts have condemned the delay, describing it as dangerous and lacking regard for players’ safety.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis expressed serious concern immediately after the match ended.

He walked onto the pitch and spoke with manager Nuno Espirito Santo about the handling of Awoniyi’s injury.

Club officials say Marinakis has been receiving constant updates on the striker’s condition from the medical team.

Player Health Comes First – Forest

The club described the incident as “a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game.”

Forest emphasised that “a player’s health and wellbeing must always come first, before rules or competition.”

Awoniyi’s injury has drawn sympathy from fans, colleagues, and football lovers across Nigeria and beyond.

As at Tuesday evening, the Nigerian international remained under close observation in the hospital.

Medical experts say the next 48 hours will be crucial for his full recovery and future availability.

Forest fans and Super Eagles supporters are hopeful for a quick and complete return to action.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook