'Time bomb waiting to go off': Flaw in offside rule exposed by Nottingham Forest star Taiwo Awoniyi's frightening injury
The use of VAR in offside procedures has been called into question after a player was placed into an induced coma following a frightening collision with the goal post.
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi required emergency surgery on Sunday after he collided with the goal post in an attempt to get his foot on a cross inside the box.
Serious medical intervention was required after he reportedly ruptured his intestine. He has since been woken from the coma.
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The frightening scene unfolded late in Forest's 2-2 draw against Leicester City, with questions immediately raised over the protocols involved with offside rulings.
A replay of the incident identified that Forest's Anthony Elanga was in a clear offside position when he collected the ball before putting a cross into Awoniyi, although no flag was raised by the assistant referee until after the striker collided with the post.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga in a clear offside position against Leicester. Optus Sport
That practice is the correct procedure in accordance with the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which amended the ruling following the introduction of VAR.
While the ruling did not change, assistant referees - formerly known as linesmen - were informed not to raise their flag if it appeared to be an immediate goalscoring situation in a bid to reduce the risk of human error interfering with play.
However, former English Premier League referee Keith Hackett fears the slight change to the ruling is better designed to protect officials than players.
"With the introduction of VAR came the process of assistant referees delaying the flag to indicate offside until the outcome - either a goal or possession of the ball by the defence," Hackett said on BBC Radio.
"This is to ensure where the assistant referee makes an error on an offside decision, it doesn't impact on the goal being ruled out incorrectly.
"Sadly, this practice does expose the risk to players of injury."
Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest receives medical treatment. Getty
The situation is not the first time the use of VAR protocols has been called into question this season, with the likes of Arsene Wegner and Ange Postecoglou calling for change.
Wegner was the latest prior to the incident to slam the offside protocols as he called for the game to shift to a "daylight" offside law which gives an advantage to those in attack.
The rule change was first proposed by the former Arsenal boss in 2020 when he stepped into the role as FIFA's chief of global football development.
The concept was reiterated last week by Wegner as he called for officials to accept that if "any part of your body is on the same line as the defender, you're not offside."
The IFAB has been trialling various methods of offside rulings with "a view to foster attacking football" including the concept proposed by Wegner.
Still, the trials of the idea have not been successful due to concerns it gives too much of an advantage to the attacking team and could have a negative tactical impact.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou has pleaded for officials to stop "microscopically judging" offside situations as some adjudications have seen players left waiting several minutes for a decision in the heat of battle.
Head Coach Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur. Offside via Getty Images
While Awoniyi's offside ruling was immediately called after play stopped, former England midfielder Fara Williams slammed the officials' reliance on technology to oversee games.
"For the players and fans, Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating," she said.
"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... but it was on the halfway-line.
"This has been a time bomb waiting to go off in terms of someone getting seriously injured."
The offside ruling can not be changed with immediate effect under the current IFAB meeting cycle, with all laws required to be approved in December before a vote is then held in Match.
It would also need to be tested in competitive leagues before it takes full effect.
