Nottingham Forest

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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.

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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

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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)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column.

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We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's statement aimed at clearing up the on-pitch controversy surrounding owner Evangelos Marinakis after Sunday's 2-2 draw with Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Johnny: It could have waited, and not be on the pitch. Whether it causes a mass reaction is neither here nor there. It was not a wise move.

Anon: This was a result of conceding a late goal from an already relegated team, which in all likelihood cost us Champions League football. The owner has really left a bad taste in supporters' mouths.

Annie: Load of rubbish! It was a heated confrontation from the owner! Manager, as usual, kept calm and professional! The manager has shown incredible skills with this team! Remember, at the beginning of the season, pundits were saying Notts would be the first team to go down! Now look at them? Time for the owner to be proud of his coach and team! The season hasn't ended, so still a good chance of Europe! The owner should hang his head in shame!

However, there were replies defending Marinakis and some going as far as to say that the Greek owner wasn't looking to interact with Nuno in the first place.

Dan: Looks like a problem in communication between the player/medical staff, misinforming Nuno. Marinakis is entitled to be angry, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Comments from Neville/Carragher are all too predictable and, per usual, well worth ignoring.

Mark: Look at the footage and Marinakis was going straight past Nuno to someone else, and it was Nuno who stopped him to speak. It looked like both of them were frustrated as to what happened and Nuno said as much minutes after the game. He didn't go there purposely to see Nuno.

Ken: Should have said nothing at all. The only thing that matters in this is that Awoniyi makes a speedy and full recovery. If it was the fitness team he was mad at, he should have summoned them to the dressing room. He wasn't having a go at Nuno.

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Nottingham Forest have put out a statement on the club's official website following the injury sustained by forward Taiwo Awoniyi and the subsequent on-pitch outburst from owner Evangelos Marinakis moments after Sunday's draw with Leicester City.

Marinakis faced criticism from some pundits for initially appearing to show anger towards manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The club said: "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 instils 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.

"The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium.

"In light of this, we urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgment and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context."

Read more on the story

Tell us what you think of the statement here.

Speaking to the Football News Show, former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes Nottingham Forest might not have a better chance to make the Champions League after this season.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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BBC Sport football news reporter Nick Mashiter has been answering your questions on the transfer window.

Ed: Morgan Gibbs-White is the best player I've seen in the shirt since Stan Collymore (other than perhaps Murillo). How likely is the noise around a move to Manchester City? Do they honestly view him as a direct replacement for Kevin de Bruyne? If it happens, what fee do you think is on the cards? He must be worth £60m plus in the current market?

Nick: He is on the radar at City - and why wouldn't he be?

Gibbs-White has enjoyed a fantastic season and was rightly - even if it was a delayed call after initially being omitted - included in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad.

Nuno Espirito Santo said in January that the most important thing was not bringing players in, but keeping those who were already in the building. They are likely to share equal importance this summer, with Forest needing to build on what has been a great year.

Gibbs-White may need to add more goals to his game - he has six this season - but his form over the past 18 months shows Forest were right to pay a little over £40m to Wolves three years ago.

Taking that into account, and the market being as it is, then Forest would be well within their rights to look to double their money.

Read more from a transfer Q&A with our experts

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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Nottingham Forest have, arguably, only done as well as they have this season because of their lack of injuries. And Forest have, arguably, only stumbled in recent weeks because of injuries.

Key players like Chris Wood, Murillo, Anthony Elanga, Ola Aina and Callum Hudson-Odoi have missed important games in the past few months, and their absence has been notable at both ends of the pitch distinctly because the Reds have overperformed.

With one of the lowest injury lists in the Premier League, you could maintain that Forest would be closer to their 'natural' position - somewhere near everyone's expectation - if they had been 12th with an average number of players in the physio room. As it is, only Fulham, Bournemouth and West Ham United have had fewer than the Reds' 10 injuries this season according to data at physioroom.com. And, of those injuries, several players affected have not been integral to the first XI.

But battling for a place in the top five, qualifying for European football - regardless of the competition - and reaching an FA Cup semi-final is way beyond what anyone expected. It is just that to have come this far means everyone's expectation levels have risen.

There are evidently other factors in our slump - fear, tiredness, pressure - but a stronger squad, an improved mentality and lessons learned will surely help this team to grow, to succeed and to develop. Whatever happens, it has been a remarkable achievement. Just an achievement that creates conflicting emotions.

The season is not over, and there are still numerous possibilities remaining depending on the final games, but while disappointment levels are high at the moment - multiple feelings are completely natural - it is always important to remember where we've come from. And where we're going - whether it's Barcelona or Bratislava.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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BBC Sport's football news reporter Nick Mashiter has been answering your questions on the transfer window.

Steve, St Albans: Nottingham Forest seem to have run out of steam. Where do they need to strengthen to be able to challenge next season - and who are their likely transfer targets?

Nick: It remains a fantastic season for Forest, despite the late drop in form. I imagine the club would have been delighted with their season if it was offered to them in August.

Chris Wood needs support and Liam Delap is an ideal signing, especially with his £30m release clause being triggered now that Ipswich have been relegated. It means he will be within Forest's reach and the striker would be a perfect fit.

I'm told he is someone who will pick his next move very carefully, so regular football and a European campaign will be tempting.

Nuno Espirito Santo likes to work with a smaller squad though, so don't expect to see a huge influx of players coming in. The club was surgical last summer - adding in key men such as Elliot Anderson and Nikola Milenkovic - so expect them to take a similar approach this time.

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Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi sustained an abdominal injury clattering into a post during the 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Sunday, and BBC Radio Nottingham has confirmed reports that he had surgery on Monday.

Awoniyi came on as a substitute for the Reds and stayed on the field for the final few minutes while clearly struggling with his injury.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis expressed frustration over the forward not being substituted, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo saying the Nigeria international was left on because of a misunderstanding between the coaching and medical departments.

Earlier this season, Awoniyi broke his nose in an FA Cup tie against Exeter in February and then sustained a hamstring injury in April.

Sunday's draw meant seventh-placed Forest secured a place in Europe next season, although they are now one point behind a qualification spot for the Champions League.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discussed Evangelos Marinakis' public outburst on the pitch following Nottingham Forest's draw against Leicester on Sunday.

Marinakis and boss Nuno Espirito Santo said afterwards that the frustration surrounded an incident involving striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who was not substituted despite appearing to be injured.

It has since been reported that Awoniyi had surgery on Monday for a serious abdominal injury.

In a discussion about club owners, former Premier League forward Theo Walcott said whilst having "passion" is crucial, keeping business "behind closed doors" is just as important.

Fellow former striker Chris Sutton added: "I actually don't mind what he did. I understand what Theo is saying but there are a lot of owners who don't really care about their clubs and all they are worried about is money.

"I think there was a real overreaction in the way that people viewed this. It wasn't because of anything tactical, it was because of a misunderstanding between the medical team, Awoniyi and Nuno."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discuss football club ownership.

It was a part of a discussion stemming from Evangelos Marinakis entering the pitch after Nottingham Forest's draw against Leicester on Sunday.

The Observer's Rory Smith said: "I think it's really unhealthy for football if owners turn themselves into the central characters.

"Clubs are social institutions and they belong ultimately and spiritually to the fans, and the players, managers and owners are passing through.

"This is not a sport that is defined by owners. They should not be the central characters and we should not be building them up to be the central characters."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds