The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) is pushing for a review of the offside rule following a serious abdominal injury suffered by Nigerian and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
According to the Mirror, the PFA plans to hold talks with football’s lawmakers after Awoniyi was placed in an induced coma to aid his recovery from emergency surgery.
BusinessDay reports that the 27-year-old collided with the goalpost during Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Sunday, an incident that unfolded after assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis delayed raising her flag for an offside against Anthony Elanga.
The current protocol, introduced to accommodate VAR decisions, instructs assistant referees to delay flagging close offside calls until a phase of play is complete. However, Awoniyi’s incident has reignited concerns about the risks this approach poses to player safety.
The PFA is expected to raise the issue with the Premier League’s refereeing body, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which governs the laws of the game. Both organisations will open discussions on the potential review of the offside rule.
“There has long been a belief that play should be stopped immediately when there is a clear offside to avoid situations like this,” a source close to the talks said.
BusinessDay reports that the PFA has remained in close contact with Awoniyi’s family and Nottingham Forest, prioritising the striker’s health and recovery. But with the dust now settling on the incident, the union is keen to “learn lessons” and ensure similar injuries can be prevented in the future.
This renewed call for change reflects growing sentiment in the football community that the balance between VAR accuracy and player safety needs urgent reassessment.
