Controversial offside protocol to be reviewed after incident which left Taiwo Awoniyi needing urgent surgery on potentially fatal injury

Football’s lawmakers are set to review the incident which left Taiwo Awoniyi needing surgery for a potentially life-threatening injury.

The Nottingham Forest striker was placed into an induced coma and needed intensive care and an operation after he cannoned into a post during his side’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Sunday.

While the priority is the 27-year-old’s return to health, many have condemned the protocol introduced in 2020. 

It says that officials can delay offside flags in ‘very clear attacking situations when a player is about to score a goal or has a clear run into/towards the opponents’ penalty area’.

In Awoniyi’s case, he was hurt when he was chasing a cross made by Anthony Elanga, who was subsequently flagged for offside. 

Had the flag been raised the likelihood is that the player would not have been left with a ruptured intestine and in hospital.

Awoniyi was seriously injured and had emergency surgery to repair a ruptured intestine

IFAB declined to comment due to the sensitivity of the situation when approached by Mail Sport. 

However, it is understood that the incident will be reviewed in due course.

Whether that will trigger a change remains to be seen.

The protocol’s purpose, according to lawmakers, is to allow more goals to be scored as officials do not intervene until the attack is completed and a VAR check can be carried out if necessary.

Nigeria star Awoniyi was on Wednesday night out of an induced coma and recovering after the completion of a complex operation. He was awake and with his family.