Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is currently in an induced coma and receiving intensive care following emergency surgery on a serious abdominal injury that doctors say could have been fatal.
The 27-year-old sustained the injury after crashing into the post during Forest’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Leicester City on Sunday. Despite visibly struggling, Awoniyi attempted to continue playing before being substituted due to the club having exhausted all available changes.
On Tuesday, Nottingham Forest confirmed that Awoniyi had undergone urgent surgery after the severity of his condition was discovered on Monday. Sources indicate that the operation was initially successful, though the full procedure was expected to be completed today due to its complexity.
The club emphasized the seriousness of the injury, noting that such cases can, in rare circumstances, result in death. Forest added that Awoniyi is now recovering.
In a strongly worded statement, the club defended owner Evangelos Marinakis, who was criticized for confronting head coach Nuno Espírito Santo on the pitch after the match. Forest stated there was no confrontation, only shared frustration over the medical staff’s decision to allow Awoniyi to continue playing despite his evident pain.
“The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in football,” the statement read. “To Evangelos Marinakis, this club is family, and his reaction was driven by deep care and responsibility. There was no conflict with Nuno — just concern for the player’s well-being.”
Forest also criticized public figures like Gary Neville, who called Marinakis’ behavior “scandalous” on social media, urging pundits to refrain from “baseless outrage” and to prioritize facts and player welfare.
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