The serious injury suffered by Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi during a recent Premier League match has reignited controversy over the current offside law and its delayed flag protocol.
Awoniyi, 27, collided with the post while attempting to convert a cross from Anthony Elanga in a 2-2 draw against Leicester City. He sustained a ruptured intestine and was placed in an induced coma following emergency surgery.
The incident has drawn criticism because Elanga was in an offside position during the build-up. According to current rules introduced in the 2020-21 season by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), assistant referees are instructed to delay raising their flag if a goalscoring opportunity is present. Only after the play concludes can the flag be raised, and the incident reviewed by VAR if necessary.
Many, including Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and pundits, have expressed concern over the risks posed by this delay. Marinakis reportedly confronted the manager and medical team post-match, frustrated by what he perceived as a misjudgment in the response to Awoniyi’s injury. Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett also weighed in, stating that the delayed flag rule “exposes players to injury.”
This is not the first time the rule has led to dangerous outcomes. Past incidents include head injuries to Wolves’ Rui Patricio and Manchester City’s Ederson, as well as a serious ankle injury to John Stones. These cases further highlight the growing list of casualties since the delayed flag protocol was introduced.
Former players and experts are now calling for urgent reform. Fara Williams, ex-England midfielder, criticized the decision to allow play to continue, particularly as Elanga’s offside was evident. She described the current protocol as a “ticking time bomb” and believes it has now exploded with Awoniyi’s severe injury.
The IFAB, which governs the laws of the game alongside FIFA and the UK football associations, is expected to face mounting pressure to review and possibly revise the rule in its upcoming meetings.
