Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma and receiving intensive care following ‘urgent’ surgery on a serious abdominal injury that Mail Sport can reveal could have been life-threatening.
The Nottingham Forest striker crashed into a post during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester and, following several minutes of treatment, returned to action before being taken off.
Forest confirmed on Tuesday that the 27-year-old underwent urgent surgery after the extent of the injury was confirmed on Monday and he was rushed to hospital. Mail Sport understands that the initial signs are that the surgery has been a success. In what is a complex medical process, doctors were expecting to today complete the operation.
The injury was of a nature which, in some cases, can be fatal. Forest said that the striker is ‘recovering well’.
The club accompanied that update with an attack on their own medical staff and those – including Sky Sports’ Gary Neville– who criticised owner Evangelos Marinakis for entering the field and appearing to remonstrate with boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Awoniyi could not be substituted because Forest had used their last available switch to replace Elliot Anderson with Jota Silva. The forward tried to carry on, but was unable to move properly as Forest chased a late winner which would have boosted their Champions League qualification hopes.
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma after undergoing urgent abdominal surgery
Awoniyi collided heavily with the post during the 2-2 draw with Leicester on Sunday
He required several minutes of treatment but played on despite being in visible discomfort
After they were left to play the last few minutes with 10 men, it appeared Marinakis took issue with Nuno at full-time.
But in a remarkable statement, the club clarified matters. It read: ‘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. This principle is not just policy for us, it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a club, it’s family, and he instils that message in all of us.
‘That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested in the situation. His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility and emotional investment in one of our own.
‘He didn’t just see it as an isolated incident, but something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.
‘In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence.
‘When he saw our player clearly in discomfort it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.
‘It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him. He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur.
‘There was no confrontation, with Nuno or others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.
Evangelos Marinakis voiced his concern with the medical staff’s handling of the injury
‘In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgment and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context.
‘Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social-media traction serves no one, least of all the injured player. We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others. Let concern come before commentary.’
Shortly after the exchange between Nuno and Marinakis, Neville had written on social media: ‘Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.’
To aggravate matters, the Awoniyi incident came after Anthony Elanga, whose cross Awoniyi was chasing, was allowed to advance on goal despite being clearly offside.
Play continued due to the assistant referee delaying raising the flag, as officials have been instructed to do.
The two dropped points could prove crucial for Forest. Even if they win their two remaining matches, they are relying on others to drop points to make the Champions League places.