Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi required emergency surgery on an abdominal injury after colliding with a goalpost during Sunday`s Premier League match against Leicester.
The striker received several minutes of treatment after the hard impact late in the 2-2 draw but was allowed to continue playing.
It was only on Monday that medical staff fully understood the extent of the injury, resulting in the 27-year-old Nigerian being taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
The conclusion of the match was overshadowed by a heated on-pitch confrontation between Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo. It was later confirmed that Awoniyi`s injury and the decision to let him continue were the main points of contention.
Marinakis stated he was angered by the decision to allow the player to return to the game.
Although Awoniyi finished the match after receiving medical attention, he appeared to be in considerable discomfort following the collision, which happened when he slid into the base of the post while attempting to connect with a cross.
After the match, Nuno blamed a “misunderstanding” for the decision to let Awoniyi continue. He expressed disappointment, stating they effectively played with one less player for the final ten minutes as Awoniyi, despite his effort, was in too much pain to properly contribute. He explained there was a miscommunication between the coaching staff and the medical department.
Nuno also acknowledged the general disappointment and frustration but highlighted the owner`s passion as a driving force for the club`s development. He suggested many fans felt similarly and expressed significant gratitude to the Marinakis family.
Marinakis sought to minimize the on-pitch incident, instead emphasizing Forest`s aspirations for European qualification. Nevertheless, he admitted that frustration regarding Taiwo`s injury and the medical staff`s evaluation of his fitness to continue was widely felt, describing it as a natural display of passion for the club. He concluded by urging everyone to be grateful, passionate, and continue dreaming.
