Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has criticized the Premier League’s delayed offside flag rule, attributing it to teammate Taiwo Awoniyi’s serious abdominal injury. Awoniyi sustained the injury during Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw against Leicester City, colliding with the post in the match's closing moments. He was diagnosed with a ruptured intestine and placed in an induced coma to aid recovery.

Awoniyi, 27, has since regained consciousness and is recovering after undergoing a second surgical procedure. Aina expressed his frustration, blaming match officials for not raising the offside flag before the sequence of play that led to the injury. He specifically criticized assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis for not flagging Anthony Elanga offside earlier in the build-up, arguing that the delayed call contributed to Awoniyi’s collision with the post.

Aina emphasized that the entire Nottingham Forest squad has been affected by the incident and is united in supporting Awoniyi, who is under close medical supervision with his family. He described Awoniyi as a teammate and brother, expressing the team’s concern and prayers for his recovery. Awoniyi initially attempted to continue playing after receiving medical treatment but was soon rushed to the hospital, where doctors induced a coma to stabilize his heart rate and reduce movement for optimal recovery.

The incident has reignited discussions about the Premier League’s policy of delaying offside calls, which is intended to preserve potential goal-scoring opportunities but is now facing scrutiny for its safety implications. Awoniyi's injury underscores the potential risks associated with this practice.

Ola Aina and his teammates are praying for Awoniyi’s recovery, offering their support during this challenging time. Aina highlighted the impact of such incidents on the team, emphasizing their hope for Awoniyi’s swift and full recovery.

It has been reported that Awoniyi crashed into a post during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester and, following several minutes of treatment, returned to action before being taken off. The Nigerian international could not be substituted because Forest had used their last available substitute to replace Elliot Anderson with Jota Silva. He bravely tried to carry on, but was unable to move properly with his side frantically seeking a late winner.