fbpx
Connect with us

Championship

Update given on Billy Sharp as police arrest attacker | Jack Robinson confronted by fan

An update has been given on Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp as police arrest his attacker while Jack Robinson also gets confronted by a fan.

A male has been arrested after the Blades captain Billy Sharp was assaulted with a headbutt by a fan during a pitch invasion.

The attack happened on Tuesday night after Nottingham Forest beat Sheffield United on penalties in the Championship playoff semi final second leg at the City Ground.

Nottinghamshire Police said: “A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with this incident. He remains in custody and will be questioned by officers.

“Our enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing. We have spoken to the player concerned and we are working with both clubs who are supporting us with our investigation.”

Sharp tweeted on Wednesday morning: “One mindless idiot ruined what was an unbelievable night of football.

“Congratulations to Nottingham Forest on victory and good luck in the final. As an ex Forest player I will not let one scumbag ruin my respect for the Forest fans.

“Incredibly proud to be captain of this group of Sheffield United players, they gave their all and can hold their heads up high. We will be back and go again. Thanks for all your messages and support after the incident.”

 

Footage showed a supporter charging at Sharp, 36, during a pitch invasion after Forest won 3-2 on penalties with the two legs finishing 3-3 on aggregate.

Sharp was knocked to the ground and players next to him was left in shock at what they had just witnessed.

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom said Sharp needed stitches, but was also shaken up, bleeding and angry.

Sharp, who had been a substitute, was knocked to the ground with Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom saying: “It’s assault. We’ve seen one of our players attacked.

“If you watch every Monday night football, Sunday or whatever there are always things thrown on the pitch, fan invasion and commentators and ex-players all say the same thing about the safety of the players and nothing has ever been done.

“Bill’s minding his own business off the pitch, trying to get our players away and he’s assaulted on the blindside, cowardly. He was knocked to the ground, stitches, shook up.

“How can our players’ safety be put at risk at our place of work? It’s a prison sentence waiting to happen. We have got the footage and something will be done about it. He’s having treatment here.”

Police later confirmed a 31-year-old man had been arrested.

Nottinghamshire Police’s chief inspector Paul Hennessy said: “A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with this incident. He remains in custody and will be questioned by officers.

“Our enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing. We have spoken to the player concerned and we are working with both clubs who are supporting us with our investigation.”

Forest quickly condemned the incident: “Nottingham Forest Football Club are appalled to learn that our former player, Billy Sharp, was assaulted leaving the pitch after tonight’s match at The City Ground.

“The Club will work with the authorities to locate the individual in order they are held to account for their actions, which will include a life ban from Nottingham Forest.

“The Club would also like to apologise to Billy personally and to Sheffield United Football Club.”

The vile attack on Sharp left talkSPORT hosts Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy astonished, calling for the perpetrator to be seriously punished.

O’Hara said on The Sports Bar: “It’s a disgusting incident. We talked about it before we’ve even seen the incident and this is what we are talking about. It is unsafe, it is shocking and it needs to stop.

“The pitch invasions have got to stop because something like this is going to happen and it has.”

Cundy added: “First of all I hope Billy Sharp is okay, shocking, shocking images. The guy runs at him at pace, he’s a big boy and Billy Sharp doesn’t see him coming.

“It’s assault. Worst case it’s a body charge, that’s being kind, it looks like a headbutt.

“It’s a disgraceful thing to see, it’s shocked me watching that. That’s a prison sentence right there, that’s the way I see it. That is an assault.

“He’s in a lot of trouble that fella.”

Cundy later added: “He doesn’t see it coming, he’s relaxed, he turns his head and this thug – he’s a big fat thing as well – puts his big, bald head right in Billy Sharp’s face at pace.”

O’Hara said: “This is what annoys me in English culture, something doesn’t get done until it’s too late. We react to an incident that happens but it needs to be stopped straight away.

“It is the worst assault I’ve seen on a football pitch. It’s shocking.”

Meanwhile after the game, Jack Robinson in what looks like an altercation with a different Forest fan. After a push back from the 28 year old Blades defender, those near them tried to separate them and prevent it from playing out.

Prior to the game, Robinson said: “I’ve played at the City Ground. Obviously I was there before Sheffield United, so I know that the crowd can get on you if you’re performing badly or you’re not at the races. We can only focus on ourselves and our performance. When we’ve performed we’ve beaten pretty much every team in this league.”

 

Twitter users reacted as an update is given on Billy Sharp while police arrest his attacker and Jack Robinson confronted by a different fan outside the ground…

ON SHARP:

@marshy2o: That headbutt on Billy Sharp is an absolute disgrace!! Teams just got to Wembley lets run on the pitch and clean someone out 🤯 some people are next level idiots who ruin it for others and tarnish clubs reputations

@CrambazzledTask: That idiot who attacked Billy Sharp has just guaranteed that he’ll miss his team’s first trip to Wembley since the 80s and potentially Forest’s first season in the Premier League since the mid-nineties. What a doylem.

@smudger19safc: Throw the book at the prick that attacked Billy Sharp ,absolute scumbag 😡. Only been a matter of time before this happens though don’t know why it’s deemed OK for 1000s to run on to the pitch 🤷‍♂️

@Sharoncroker1: Good deserves everything that’s coming to him 👏

@GringoGuiri: Don’t understand it. Your club has got to Wembley for the first time in decades and you go and take that chance away of going by doing that.

@SheldonMiller: Good and glad the cameras got it captured. Every proper Forest fan is utterly disgusted. Not what we want in our club, does not represent us.

@WalltecLtd: GBH with intent – nice stretch incoming

@bloke_is: Lifetime ban from football and prison all being well

@ChefYoonited: I bet he’s not feeling so tough this morning!

@GrantFellows2: What a whopper, hope Sharp was ok totally out of order. Won’t be watching a live game again, totally worth it.

@foresteddie: Good, lock him up and ban him

@chris_robinson0: Anyone who is capable of this kind of thing, deserves no time in any football ground or in our communities. I hope the courts make a real example of this clown and keep him of the streets for a long time. Hope Billy Sharp is ok, a great professional who’s been through enough.

ON JACK ROBINSON:

@Moyesie3: You can’t be celebrating Robbo attacking a fan. And be calling a forest fan for attacking Billy. Ffs Blades!

@midgetmanbtw: Something clearly said to him to react the poor fella looks shook as soon as robbo touches him

@Sufc_Jam3s: Another “fan” giving it big un to footballers, hes shit himself

@thomasutr_: forest lad’s face as soon as he’s actually confronted 😂😂😂😂

@WidgeQPR: Forest fans should be celebrating getting to playoff final not picking fights or head butting a player? Forest team deserve better than fans like that

@blakedcfc: Forest lad shitting himself😂😂

@TheBladette: They’ve just got to Wembley and want to celebrate by trying to scrap with our players. Strange.

@JBrianR91: Forest fans are a classy bunch…..

@CareyNicholas: Why do fans feel in need to have to taunt opposition players after a big win? Just enjoy the moment and celebrate normally… Proper weirdos.

@HelenBladette: Who do they think they are these Forest fans?

@MFCAaron1885: Forest fans aren’t the full ticket are they, so strange waiting around for opposing players

@DanNicholls03: Just won a play off game, going to Wembley. Wonder if he thought “I know what, let’s go wait for the opposition to come out and shout abuse at them”. Strange lot🥴 #nffc

@ndiaye_szn: you’ve gone to Wembley and you’re waiting around for our players trying to fight after one of your lot has already split open our captains head? what the fuck is wrong with some of these clowns

@thewilljeffrey: These lots are the weirdest fan base wtf

@chris_dewick: Their fans are genuinely the dregs of society. Lower than pond scum. Absolute vermin.

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Championship