The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) is pushing for a significant rule change in English Premier League matches following a severe injury to Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
Awoniyi, who plays for Nottingham Forest, was placed in an induced coma after undergoing emergency abdominal surgery earlier this week. The injury occurred during Forest's 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Sunday when the striker collided with a goalpost.
According to reports, the incident happened after assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis delayed raising her flag to indicate an offside against Anthony Elanga, following current Premier League protocols that encourage officials to delay offside calls until attacking phases conclude.
PFA's Proposed Rule Change
The PFA, which has been in contact with Awoniyi's family, has expressed serious concerns about the incident and is now taking action. The players' union is advocating for play to be stopped immediately when there is an obvious offside, rather than allowing play to continue and potentially risking serious injuries like Awoniyi's.
The association plans to engage with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the sport's rule-making body. Both organizations have reportedly indicated willingness to listen and review the current protocols.
Discussions will focus on finding a balance when players are clearly in offside positions and "learning lessons" from Awoniyi's unfortunate incident.
Current Protocol Under Scrutiny
The current Premier League protocol, which instructs assistant referees to delay raising their flags for tight offside decisions until the completion of attacking phases, was implemented to work alongside VAR technology. However, Awoniyi's case has highlighted potential safety concerns with this approach.
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has previously provided updates on Awoniyi's health condition, though specific details about his current status were not included in the latest reports.
This incident has sparked significant debate within football circles about player safety and the balance between technological accuracy and immediate decision-making on the pitch.
