Nottingham Forest’s forward Taiwo Awoniyi has recovered from an induced coma following surgery to treat a severe abdominal injury.
Awoniyi was admitted to the hospital on Monday after he collided with a goalpost during the final moments of the 2-2 match against Leicester City on Sunday.
According to reports from the BBC, Awoniyi suffered a ruptured intestine due to the incident.
After undergoing the initial phase of surgery on Monday, the player remained in an induced coma on Tuesday while medical professionals monitored his condition as part of his treatment.
The second phase of his surgery, which involved closing the incision, was performed on Wednesday.
He was eventually awakened from the induced coma early in the evening.
Forest plans to conduct an internal review regarding the incident.
After the collision, Awoniyi received extensive medical attention on the field, during which he appeared to indicate to the medical team that he was able to continue playing.
However, it quickly became apparent that he was still experiencing the aftermath of the incident, yet he stayed in the game. By that time, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo had already used all his substitute options.
Following the match, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stepped onto the field to express his concerns to Espirito Santo regarding the management of Awoniyi’s injury.
This occurred amid concerns regarding the forward’s well-being, as television footage clearly indicated that the Nigerian athlete appeared to be in distress.
The club is reportedly aiming to clarify why Awoniyi was permitted to return to the game.
A statement from Forest highlighted the attention directed towards the medical staff, confirming on Tuesday that Awoniyi underwent surgery and expressing a “shared frustration among us all that the medical team should not have allowed the player to proceed.”
‘Possibly fatal’
In an interview with BBC Sport, Professor Gillian Tierney, a consultant colorectal surgeon, noted that injuries akin to Awoniyi’s could be deadly.
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“This injury is extremely severe. It poses a potential threat to life,” Tierney remarked.
“It’s quite easy to overlook at the moment of impact, and it may take several hours to accurately diagnose.
“In a clinical environment, we would conduct a CT scan for a patient, and that process could require up to ten hours.
“If it happens to an athlete who is exceptionally fit, notably muscular, and fueled by adrenaline, it would be entirely understandable to miss it. Detecting fluid leakages from the intestine wouldn’t be straightforward immediately.
“Surgical intervention is typically necessary, and the abdomen would need to be opened. The mortality rate stands at 9%. Thus, if an athlete undergone this procedure were in peak condition, they would have a significant likelihood of recovery.
“The situation would differ if the operation were performed on an 80-year-old individual with pre-existing health complications.”
Mr. Harpaul Flora, a consultant vascular and general surgeon at The London Clinic, described ruptured intestines as “a fairly uncommon injury.”
He further stated, “It could be either a compression of the abdominal wall causing tearing and fluid leakage, or it may involve the rupture of an artery.
“Both scenarios cannot be diagnosed without imaging; there might be evidence of bruising.
Awoniyi’s injury has sparked discussions about the future of the offside rule.
He was trying to connect with a cross from winger Anthony Elanga when he sustained his injury. Video replays indicated that Elanga was in an offside position during the play’s development.
A fresh guideline regarding offsides was launched by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for the 2020-21 Premier League season, prompted by the implementation of the video assistant referee (VAR).
Although the regulation remained unchanged, assistant referees were instructed to refrain from raising their flags if they perceived an immediate chance for scoring.
“With the arrival of VAR came the practice of assistant referees holding off on signaling an offside until there was a conclusion whether it be a goal or the defending team regaining possession,” former Premier League referee Keith Hackett shared with BBC Radio 5 Live.
“This approach aims to prevent situations where an assistant referee’s mistake on an offside call negatively affects a legitimate goal. Unfortunately, this method does raise the potential for player injuries.”
Ex-England women’s player Fara Williams has advocated for a reevaluation of the rule.
“When the situation is close, I understand. However, when an offside is distinctly clear, I believe it is the responsibility of the assistant referee to signal and halt the game,” Williams remarked to BBC Sport.
“In this particular case, it occurred near the halfway line. This has been an impending danger for a serious injury to occur. Awoniyi suffered that terrible injury because of this.”
“I am completely opposed to it, and I sense most players share this sentiment. It is a regulation that no one appreciates, and I am confident it will be reviewed in the summer.”
