Football
Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi placed into induced coma and receiving intensive care
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is currently in a medically induced coma and receiving intensive care following emergency surgery for an abdominal injury sustained during Sunday’s Premier League match against Leicester City.
The 27-year-old Nigerian international collided heavily with the goalpost late in the match, initially staying on the pitch after receiving medical attention. However, he was later rushed to the hospital for urgent treatment.
The incident occurred in the final stages of Forest’s 2-2 draw at the City Ground. Although Awoniyi tried to carry on, the severity of his condition became clear afterward, prompting immediate medical intervention.
On Monday night, doctors performed emergency surgery, and early signs from the procedure suggest it was successful. A second phase of the operation is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
Despite the seriousness of such an injury, which can be life-threatening in extreme cases, Nottingham Forest has confirmed that Awoniyi is recovering well.
The club issued an official statement expressing relief and emphasizing that the health and safety of players always take priority.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis, known for his emotional investment in the club, is said to be deeply affected by the situation, viewing the team as part of his extended family.
Awoniyi entered the match as a late substitute for Ibrahim Sangare in the 83rd minute. With Forest having used all their substitutions, the team had to continue with a visibly struggling player after the collision.
Awoniyi has scored one goal in the Premier League this season and was seen as a potential match-winner. His inability to continue left Forest with limited attacking options as they pushed for a third goal that ultimately never came.
At the final whistle, Marinakis entered the pitch and appeared to have a tense exchange with manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Speaking to Sky Sports, Nuno explained the confusion surrounding Awoniyi’s condition, noting that initial medical feedback suggested the striker could continue playing.
With no opportunity for a further substitution, Forest was forced to play the final minutes effectively one man down. Nuno described the situation as frustrating and defended Marinakis’ reaction as a display of passion and concern for his players.
The club has since denied any confrontation between the owner and the coaching staff, stating that Marinakis was simply overcome by emotion at seeing a key player in visible pain. The statement clarified that his reaction was a human response to an intense situation, and there were no conflicts within the team.
Questions have also been raised about the match officials, with some suggesting that Awoniyi’s injury could have been prevented had the assistant referee flagged earlier for offside.
Awoniyi was clearly beyond the defensive line when Antony Elanga delivered the cross that led to the collision. However, under current Premier League rules introduced in the 2020–21 season, officials are instructed to delay raising the flag until the end of the play.
Forest’s draw means they remain seventh in the table, just one point behind fifth-place Chelsea.
With Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, the team’s next match against West Ham and their final-day clash with Chelsea could be decisive.
Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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