…Forest owner Marinakis says concern was for Awoniyi
Nottingham Forest have confirmed that striker Taiwo Awoniyi is recovering well from emergency abdominal surgery he underwent following an injury sustained during their disappointing 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Sunday.
The Nigeria international clashed against the bar and was visibly in discomfort during the rest of the game, and his mobility was heavily disturbed. He underwent an emergency surgery on Monday night to address the problem.
The end of the game took a turn for the worse when club owner Evangelos Marinakis stepped onto the pitch at full time to angrily confront manager Nuno Espírito Santo. While it was first reported that Marinakis was disappointed with the draw, the club statement revealed that he had hoped that Awoniyi would be substituted to get better treatment.
The club, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed that Awoniyi was recovering well after the surgery and also cleared the air on some misconceptions in the press.
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“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 club statement read.
“The seriousness of his injury is a powerful reminder of the physical risks in the game, and why a player’s health and well-being must always come first. At Nottingham Forest, this principle is not just policy for us; it is the deeply held belief and conviction of our owner. To Evangelos Marinakis, this isn’t just a football club—it’s family—and he instills that message in all of us.
“That is why he was so personally and emotionally invested in the situation that unfolded at the City Ground on 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.
“In moments like that, he demonstrates his leadership, not just through words, but through action and presence. In the final ten minutes of the game, when he saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines.
“His deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain—something no one with genuine care could ignore—triggered him to go onto the pitch. It was instinctive, human, and a reflection of just how much this team and its people mean to him. He would do the same again if such an unfortunate event were ever to reoccur.
“The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue.
“In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the rush to judgment and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context. Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no less the injured player. We call on these influential voices to show the same respect for player welfare that they often demand from others. Let concern come before comment.
“At Nottingham Forest, we believe the mental and physical well-being of our players and coaching staff must always take precedence over media narratives, inflammatory judgments, and certainly over self-promotion. In moments like these, the game must unite around those who put their bodies and minds on the line every week. That’s what real leadership looks like in our game.”
Awoniyi will miss the club final two games but will be hoping they can somehow book a UEFA Champions League ticket despite his absence.
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