Tensions Boil Over at Nottingham Forest Following Awoniyi’s Injury Drama
Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Sunday became a source of heated controversy, as tensions between club owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo reached a boiling point.
The altercation, which unfolded at the City Ground after the final whistle, was sparked by a crucial decision involving forward Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury during the match.
Awoniyi, who had been brought on as a substitute, found himself at the center of the drama after crashing into the post while on a breakaway. The Nigerian forward, visibly limping and clearly in discomfort, continued to play despite being in no condition to do so. As the game reached its final stages, with Forest desperately searching for a winner to keep their Champions League hopes alive, the decision not to substitute Awoniyi became a critical point of contention.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis, furious over the situation, stormed onto the pitch after the final whistle to confront Espirito Santo. The clash between the two parties was intense, with Marinakis reportedly expressing frustration over the manager’s failure to make the necessary substitution. Espirito Santo, in his post-match interview, explained that there had been confusion surrounding Awoniyi’s injury.
He stated that by the time it was clear the striker could not continue, the match was already in its dying moments, leaving no opportunity to make the change. “We played with one man less,” Nuno admitted. “That causes frustration—it’s obvious.”
The aftermath of the altercation left the club in a difficult position. Despite achieving the remarkable feat of returning to European competition for the first time in 30 years, the draw against Leicester City felt more like a loss. Nottingham Forest have now won just one of their last six Premier League matches, and their once-promising push for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification is quickly fading.
Nuno, visibly frustrated by the team’s current form, struggled to explain the dip in performance. He dismissed anxiety or nerves as the cause, suggesting that the team’s fate was still in their hands, but only if they could turn things around in their final two games of the season. “It was in our hands—and it isn’t now,” he lamented.
With just two games remaining, Nottingham Forest must quickly address their form if they are to have any chance of securing a Champions League spot. The tension between Marinakis and Espirito Santo may be the least of their concerns if they cannot rediscover the winning mentality needed for a strong finish to the season.