Overview

• Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a serious abdominal injury on May 11 after colliding with a goalpost during a match against Leicester City and initially continued playing despite visible discomfort.
• Emergency surgery was performed on May 12, and the striker was placed in a medically induced coma to aid his recovery and stabilize his condition.
• Nottingham Forest has stated there is no indication of life-threatening complications, but Awoniyi’s season is effectively over as the club pursues a Champions League spot.
• Club owner Evangelos Marinakis publicly criticized the medical staff and confronted coach Nuno Espirito Santo over the decision to allow Awoniyi to continue playing after the injury.
• The incident has raised broader concerns about player welfare and medical protocols in elite football, particularly during high-stakes matches.