Nottingham Forest is poised to initiate an internal investigation into how their medical staff managed Taiwo Awoniyi`s severe injury on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Nigerian forward remains in the hospital, currently in an induced coma, after undergoing surgery on Monday to repair a ruptured intestine.
Awoniyi sustained significant abdominal injuries following a collision with a goalpost during his team`s 2-2 draw against Leicester City.
To stabilize Awoniyi`s condition, surgeons opted to place him in an induced coma, which helps minimize his movement and regulate his heart rate.
However, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is reportedly still very angry about how the injured player was allowed to continue participating in the match by the club`s medical personnel and coaching staff.
The Greek owner has reportedly ordered a comprehensive internal review into the circumstances surrounding that contentious decision.
The club`s highly experienced doctor, Dr Prithish Shyam Narayan, along with other club medics and coaches, will be questioned as part of the investigation to establish a precise understanding of what occurred on Sunday.
Marinakis was so upset by Awoniyi`s situation that he went onto the pitch at the end of the game to speak with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
He now seeks answers before deciding on any potential further actions.
In a strongly worded statement released by Forest on Monday, the club made it clear that they will not tolerate any situation that endangers a player.
The statement read: “The seriousness of Taiwo Awoniyi`s injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player`s health and well-being must always come first.
“This principle is not just policy for us, it is the deeply held conviction of our owner.”
The statement also appeared to implicitly criticize the club`s own medical team, concluding: “There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.”
