Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma and receiving intensive care following emergency surgery on a serious abdominal injury.
The 27-year-old forward underwent urgent surgery after sustaining the potentially life-threatening injury during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
Forest confirmed the news on Tuesday after Awoniyi was rushed to hospital when the full extent of his condition was discovered on Monday.
The striker crashed into a post during the match and received several minutes of treatment on the pitch.
Taiwo Awoniyi has underwent 'urgent surgery' after suffering a severe injury on Sunday
Reuters
Despite being in visible discomfort, Awoniyi returned to action before eventually being substituted.
He attempted to continue playing but was clearly struggling to move properly as Forest chased a late winner.
The club was ultimately forced to play the final minutes with only ten men as they had already used their final substitution.
The Daily Mail reported that the initial signs suggest the surgery has been successful, with doctors expected to complete the operation today.
The injury was described as being of a nature which, in some cases, can prove fatal.
It is understood to be a complex medical process, with the player now in an induced coma whilst receiving intensive care.
Forest have stated that their striker is "recovering well" following the procedure.
The club accompanied their update with a remarkable statement criticising their own medical staff for allowing Awoniyi to continue playing.
Forest expressed that the incident serves as "a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game and why a player's health and well-being must always come first."
They emphasised this principle is not merely policy but "the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner" Evangelos Marinakis.
The club defended Marinakis's on-field reaction after the match, describing it as stemming from "deep care, responsibility and emotional investment in one of our own."
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Taiwo Awoniyi suffered the injury in the latter stages, prompting Evangelos Marinakis' on-field outburstPAForest clarified there was "no confrontation" with manager Nuno Espirito Santo or others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium.
They explained Marinakis's intervention as showing "shared frustration" that the medical team should never have allowed Awoniyi to continue playing.
The statement portrayed the owner's actions as "instinctive" and "human" rather than confrontational.
Forest also criticised pundits who had commented on the incident without full context.
They specifically urged "former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgment and fake news online."
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The owner and manager got into a heated conversation after the final whistle Getty Sky Sports' Gary Neville had written on social media that Marinakis's behaviour was "scandalous" and suggested Nuno "should go and negotiate his exit tonight."
The club called for influential voices to "show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others."
The incident was further complicated as Awoniyi was chasing Anthony Elanga's cross when he collided with the post.
Elanga had been allowed to advance despite being clearly offside, with the assistant referee delaying raising the flag as per current officiating instructions.
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Many fans and pundits are calling his behaviour 'unacceptable' Getty The two points dropped in the match could prove crucial for Forest's Champions League ambitions.
Even if they win their remaining two fixtures, they now rely on other teams dropping points to secure qualification.
