A serious injury sustained by Taiwo Awoniyi, Nigerian striker for Nottingham Forest, has sparked calls from a British lawmaker for a reassessment of current refereeing procedures in English football.
During Forest’s Premier League draw against Leicester City on Sunday, May 11, at the City Ground, Awoniyi collided with the post while converting a cross from Anthony Elanga.
The incident left the 27-year-old with a life-threatening intestinal injury that required emergency surgery and temporary placement in an induced coma.
Concerns have since been raised over the play that led to the injury.
Elanga was in an offside position during the build-up, but under the 2020 officiating rule change, linesmen are instructed not to flag for offside until the attacking move is complete.
Critics argued this delay can put players at unnecessary risk.
Reacting to the incident, a Nottinghamshire Member of Parliament, Mr. Naish, wrote to the Football Association highlighting the concerns voiced by residents and fans.
“I’ve heard from several constituents who believe the injury could have been avoided if the offside decision had been made earlier,” Naish wrote.
“There’s growing concern—not just locally, but likely across the football world—about whether these delayed flagging rules sufficiently prioritize player safety.”
Naish has requested that the FA investigate the Awoniyi incident and consider whether adjustments should be made to the current offside flagging protocol to help prevent similar injuries in the future.
Following the impact, Nottingham Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, came onto the pitch after the match.
The club later explained this was a reaction of genuine concern and emotional support for Awoniyi.
Awoniyi is now awake and recovering, but he is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest, however, have already secured a spot in European competition for next season.
Their final game of the season is set for Sunday, May 25, against Chelsea, with their exact European fate dependent on the weekend’s results.
