Nottinghamshire

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We asked for your views on the future of offside rules, which is currently a big talking point following the injuries sustained by Taiwo Awoniyi against Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: Letting play continue where there is uncertainty or it's marginal is fair enough. But where offside is clear and obvious, as it was in this case, then the flag should have gone up immediately and we wouldn't have a player in hospital. Time to review the rules.

Rob: People have been saying for years that this was something that could happen as a result of keeping the flag down. If they do decide to change the rule now as unsafe (which they should), serious questions need to be asked of the people that made the original decision, because there's no way they can say this was unforeseen.

Nigel: If a player is in a offside position when they receive the ball the flag should be raised, not later. This has all come about since VAR was introduced, which in my opinion has ruined football.

Ian: It's been said all along that an incident like this was eventually going to happen. However, watching from the stands, it was so far offside that the guidelines of keeping the flag down should have gone out the window. Common sense should have prevailed. Just shows how VAR has changed how matches are officiated now.

Pete: It was only a matter of time before a serious incident occurred that was preventable. One of the most ridiculous laws in the 'modern' game. They have to rectify this!

Rob: Rule needs to be changed and more common sense used when players are clearly offside. That all said my main concern at the moment is the health and well-being of a young footballer, husband, son and father. Hope you make a full and quick recovery Taiwo. Love to you and your family.

Image source, PA Media

BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live with the latest on Taiwo Awoniyi's injury:

"He was taken into hospital on Monday night after he took a turn for the worse after the game on Sunday. He underwent the first phase of surgery on Monday night. My understanding is the damage caused to his abdomen was worse than they first thought it might be.

"He spent yesterday [Tuesday] asleep, in an induced coma, and there's hope that today they can complete the second phase of the procedure, which will effectively be the last stages of the repair, with a view to awakening him from the coma at some point today."

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For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.

The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.

Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.

When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.

It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.

I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.

I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma after having the first phase of surgery on a serious abdominal injury.

The Nigeria international, 27, collided with the post in the 88th minute of the 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground on Sunday as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from Anthony Elanga.

The incident has led to criticism of offside rules given play continued despite Elanga being in an offside position.

Awoniyi is "recovering well" in hospital but what do you think about how things played out?

Tell us here

Why did play continue?

When an immediate goalscoring opportunity is likely to occur, assistant referees are told to keep their flag down until the passage of play is complete.

If a goal is scored, the incident can then be reviewed by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Although this allows goals to be scored, critics say the protocol needlessly endangers players.

Nottingham Forest will make at least five signings this summer with Manchester City's 22-year-old English midfielder James McAtee and Ipswich striker Delap among those they have scouted. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

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