The prosecutor Marianne Connally had informed the hearing that the Sheffield United skipper, Sharp, required four stitches to a wound on his lip after being head-butted by Robert Biggs.
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A 30-year-old man has been jailed for 24 weeks after pleading guilty at Nottingham magistrates court to assaulting Sheffield United skipper Billy Sharp. The incident happened on Tuesday after Sheffield lost the playoff semi-final tie at City Ground. Robert Biggs, who is from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. After the final whistle, fans flocked onto the pitch from the stands to celebrate after their team edged closer to Premier League promotion. Sharp, who was injured, did not play for Sheffield in the play-off semi-final second leg. He watched on from the touchline when the Nottingham Forest season ticket-holder charged at him.
He appeared in court from custody and did not oppose an application for a football banning order during the hearing. However, he was told that a separate charge of illegally entering the playing surface had been dropped. The prosecutor Marianne Connally had informed the hearing that the Sheffield United skipper, Sharp, required four stitches to a wound on his lip after being head-butted by Robert Biggs. The incident was caught by cameras that were covering the match for live television, added Connally.
She told the court: “A large number of fans entered the field of play. Mr Sharp hadn’t directly participated in the game. He appears to be standing with his hands in his pockets. Mr Biggs can be seen to run along the pitch. He then head-butts Mr Sharp. The crown’s case is that this is a deliberate and senseless act of violence.” The prosecutor added: He has not seen it coming. There is certainly no suggestion he was goading anyone at the time. Mr Biggs has, to his credit, turned himself in. It’s an assault on an employee, effectively in his place of work.”
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Earlier, Sheffield forward, Billy Sharp, released a statement and congratulated the winning side. Sharp also insisted he will not let one supporter “ruin my respect for the Forest fans.” “One mindless idiot ruined what was an unbelievable night of football,” Sharp wrote. “Congratulations to Nottingham Forest on their 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.”
Prior to that, Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom also had his say on the incident. After the game, he told Sky Sports, “I watch every Monday Night Football, every Super Sunday, my time up in Scotland, there has been so many people talking about seeing things thrown on the pitch, fans invading the pitch, seeing things that put players’ health and safety in danger. We’ve seen it. We know what has happened. It’s bang out of order. We’re the ones that suffer. It’s upsetting for a lot of reasons.”
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