Nottingham Forest statement on Taiwo Awoniyi as club address Evangelos Marinakis storming pitch
The Forest owner was left furious at full time after his side’s 2-2 with Leicester and could be seen in a deep
discussion with manager Nuno Espirito Santo
After Taiwo Awoniyi was put in an induced coma to speed up his recuperation from emergency stomach surgery,
Nottingham Forest issued a statement.
It comes after Forest’s 2-2 tie with Leicester ended in dramatic scenes at full time, as owner Evangelos Marinakis
was seen arguing with Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch.
Many people criticised the Greek owner for the event, including Gary Neville, who called his actions “disgraceful.”
However, the club denied that there was a “confrontation” with the Portuguese coach and instead called the reports
“fake news.”
There is no indication that the 27-year-old Nigerian international’s situation is life-threatening. He had surgery on
Monday night after colliding with a post late in the game on Sunday. The process might limit the player’s range of
motion and control his heart rate.
After being in pain for a few minutes on Sunday, Awoniyi was finally permitted to continue, but not before being
taken to the hospital for more care.
A Forest statement claimed Marinakis’ “reaction was one of deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in
one of our own. In moments like that he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and
presence.”
In order to inform supporters of the situation, Nottingham Forest issued a lengthy statement on Tuesday night:
“Nottingham Forest can confirm that Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering well so far following urgent surgery on a serious
abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Leicester City.”
The severity of his injuries serves as a stark reminder of the game’s physical perils and the importance of putting a
player’s health and wellbeing first. This idea is not merely our policy at Nottingham Forest; it is our owner’s steadfast
belief and commitment. Evangelos Marinakis instills in all of us the belief that this is more than simply a football
team; it is family.
Sunday. His reaction was one of deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own. He didn’t
just see it as an isolated incident, but as something that reflected the values and unity of the entire team.
He shows his leadership in situations like that by acting and being there in addition to speaking. It got more and
more difficult for him to remain on the sidelines during the last 10 minutes of the game as he witnessed our player
fighting through obvious pain. His intense annoyance at witnessing our guy in excruciating pain on the ground—
something that no one who truly cared could overlook—led him to take to the pitch. It was natural, real, and a
testament to how much he values this group and its members. If such a sad incident ever happened again, he would
do it again.
The fact is, neither on the pitch nor within the stadium was there any altercation with Nuno or anybody else. All we
could agree on was that the player should never have been let to continue by the medical staff.
Therefore, we encourage past coaches, athletes, and other prominent figures in the sport to avoid making snap
decisions and spreading false information online, particularly when they lack complete information and context. No
one benefits, least of all the injured player, from baseless and misguided criticism motivated by personal social
media traction. We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often
demand from others. Let concern come before commentary.
In times like these, the game must come together in support of those who risk their bodies and minds every week.
That is what true leadership in our game looks like. At Nottingham Forest, we believe that the mental and physical
health of our players and coaching staff must always come first — over media narratives, divisive opinions, and
definitely over self-promotion.
Read more news on https://www.sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply