Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has emerged from an induced coma following surgery for a severe abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City.
Awoniyi’s recovery marks a significant step after a collision with the goalpost resulted in a ruptured intestine.
The incident occurred late in the 2-2 draw. He underwent a two-stage operation on Monday and Wednesday, spending Tuesday in an induced coma for observation. He awoke Wednesday evening.
Nottingham Forest has initiated an internal review into the handling of the situation. Awoniyi received extensive on-field treatment, initially indicating his ability to continue despite the impact. However, he remained visibly affected but played on due to the team having used all substitutions.
Post-match, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis expressed concerns to manager Nuno Espirito Santo regarding the management of Awoniyi’s injury, prompting an investigation into why he was permitted to return to play.
A club statement acknowledged shared frustration over the medical team’s decision, emphasizing the severity of the situation. Medical experts consulted by BBC Sport highlighted the potentially life-threatening nature of such injuries, emphasizing the difficulty in immediate diagnosis and the need for prompt surgical intervention.
Consultant colorectal surgeon Professor Gillian Tierney described the injury as “potentially life-threatening,” noting the difficulty in rapid diagnosis and highlighting the 9% mortality rate associated with this type of surgery. Consultant vascular and general surgeon Mr Harpaul Flora added that such ruptures are rare, but life-threatening if untreated, potentially leading to sepsis.
Awoniyi Recovers After Surgery
Forest Responds to Marinakis Report
Awoniyi’s injury has reignited debate surrounding the offside rule. Replays indicate an offside position by teammate Anthony Elanga in the build-up to the incident. The current VAR protocol, while not changing the offside law, encourages assistant referees to delay flag signals for potential scoring opportunities. This, according to former Premier League referee Keith Hackett, increases the risk of player injury. Former England women’s midfielder Fara Williams advocates for a review of the rule.
Williams argues that clear offside calls should immediately halt play to prevent such injuries. The incident underscores a potential flaw in the current system and the need for further assessment.
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