It was supposed to be just another Premier League fixture. Nottingham Forest vs. Leicester City. High stakes, late drama, and the usual roar from the terraces. But by the 88th minute, football had taken a sharp and frightening turn.

Forest’s No. 9, Taiwo Awoniyi, a player known for his strength, precision, and quiet charisma, lay on the turf. The collision with the post looked rough but not uncommon. He got up. He played on. He was eventually subbed off.

But the real story was just beginning.

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The Injury That Shocked the League

The next morning, news broke: Awoniyi hadn’t just taken a knock. He had suffered a ruptured intestine, a rare and dangerous injury. Emergency surgery followed. He was placed in an induced coma. For fans, teammates, and his family, the nightmare had begun.

And while the football world waited anxiously, his manager Nuno Espirito Santo gave a brief but hopeful update:

“He went to surgery, surgery went well, thank God. He is under observation now, but he is recovering.”

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Out of the Coma, and Talking

On Wednesday, May 14, Awoniyi underwent a second surgical procedure. That same evening, he was brought out of the coma. He is now awake, communicating, and surrounded by his family.

It’s a massive sigh of relief not just for Nottingham Forest, but for the broader football community who feared the worst.

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VAR, Offside, and the Big “What If?”

Now comes the messy part. The play that led to Awoniyi’s injury should have been called offside. Anthony Elanga, who delivered the cross, was off. But under current Premier League rules, assistant referees are instructed to wait until the play is over before raising the flag.

That delay may have cost Awoniyi more than just his season.

Teammate Ola Aina didn’t mince words:

“None of this would have happened to T if the flag had just gone up, would it?”

It’s sparked a fresh debate around the offside protocol, especially when player safety is at stake. When does game flow stop being more important than human health?

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Forest’s Inner Turmoil

Reports also surfaced of club owner Evangelos Marinakis confronting staff post-match, allegedly furious over how the situation was handled. The club later clarified there was no confrontation, just shared frustration.

Meanwhile, the medical team is keeping Awoniyi under observation for at least five days. The hope? That he might be well enough to visit the training ground and be present for Forest’s final game of the season.

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The Bigger Picture

Awoniyi has been one of Nigeria’s most promising talents, not just in England but internationally. His journey from street football in Ilorin to becoming a Premier League forward has always been one of resilience. This moment only adds another chapter to that legacy.

He was nearly lost to a delayed flag.

Now he’s alive, healing, and hopefully, soon—back.

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