Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi was placed into an induced coma after suffering a ruptured intestine in a collision with the post during a 2-2 Premier League draw against Leicester City on Sunday. The incident, which occurred when Awoniyi was attempting to get on the end of a cross from winger Anthony Elanga, has raised questions about the application of the offside law. The assistant referee followed protocol by allowing the passage of play to continue, but the severity of Awoniyi's injury has sparked debate about whether the offside law is too lenient, potentially exposing players to injury. The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) would argue the law was applied correctly given it met the criteria set by IFAB, which introduced a new protocol on offsides for the 2020-21 Premier League season. Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett criticized the practice of delaying the offside flag, stating it exposes players to injury. This is the most severe incident since the new application of the law was introduced. The rules of football are set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and may be reassessed in the summer following this incident.
Source: BBC Sports Football
Post a Comment