Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is now out of an induced coma and recovering well following emergency surgery for a serious abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
As first reported by Mail Sport, Awoniyi, 27, was placed in intensive care after undergoing a complex and urgent operation. The procedure, which took place on Wednesday, was successful, and he regained consciousness later that evening, surrounded by his family.
The injury occurred when Awoniyi collided with the goalpost while chasing a cross from teammate Anthony Elanga. Despite receiving treatment on the pitch, he briefly returned to play before being substituted—Forest had already used their final change moments earlier. He was later rushed to the hospital after the severity of the injury became clear.
In response to criticism directed at club owner Evangelos Marinakis, particularly from Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, Nottingham Forest issued a strong statement defending Marinakis’ actions.
The club emphasized that his decision to enter the pitch post-match stemmed from deep concern for Awoniyi’s well-being, not confrontation with manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
“The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in football and why a player’s health must always come first,” the statement read. “To Evangelos Marinakis, this club is family. His reaction was one of care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own.”
The club also criticized the spread of misinformation and urged public figures to avoid rushing to judgment without full context, especially when player welfare is at stake.
Awoniyi’s injury has also reignited debate over IFAB’s offside rule, which instructs assistant referees to delay raising the flag during potential goal-scoring opportunities. Elanga, who delivered the cross that led to the collision, appeared to be offside in the build-up.