Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie has reportedly been told to attend a meeting with Nottinghamshire police or be arrested after shocking footage emerged of him appearing to stamp on a pitch-invading Nottingham Forest fan.
McBurnie, 25, has denied the stamp on Twitter but according to Sky Sports News, he will be arrested if he doesn’t attend voluntarily.
The incident occurred in Tuesday’s Championship play-off semi-final. United were beaten on penalties in their crucial second leg at the City Ground, failing to secure a showdown with Huddersfield in the Wembley final later this month.
After goalkeeper Brice Samba denied Morgan Gibbs-White from 12 yards to send Forest through, jubilant home supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate their victory – but there were some unsavoury scenes.
Sky Sports cameras picked up the horrifying moment United striker Billy Sharp, 36, was sent tumbling to the floor after being headbutted in the technical area by an onrushing fan.
Robert Biggs, 30, has since been jailed for 24 weeks and banned from football for 10 years after pleading guilty at Nottingham Magistrate’s Court.
Yet Sharp was not the only victim of an attack during the pitch invasion, as footage circulating on social media appearing to show team-mate McBurnie jumping and stamping on a Forest supporter in the midst of a melee.
The disgraceful clip, posted by Twitter user @brokenkingmusic, seems to capture the fan in question falling to the ground before McBurnie comes in with a furious stamp as he lays helpless on the floor.
Oli McBurnie appeared to stamp on a Nottingham Forest fan in footage circulating online
McBurnie seemed to lashed out at the fan after Sheffield United’s playoff defeat against Forest and has now been asked to attend a meeting with Nottinghamshire police
The fan can first be seen falling to the floor during a pitch invasion at the City Ground
A furious McBurnie then appears to storm in and stamp on the fan as he lays on the ground
After the Scotland international is pulled away by one of his colleagues, the fan then slowly returns to his feet at the end of the video.
Despite being accused of stamping on the fan, McBurnie has denied doing so and instead suggested he was trying to step over him on the floor.
He endorsed a post on Twitter which read: ‘Wish that @oli_mcburnie video was in full context – looks more like he was trying to step over him with one bad leg! Could be wrong!’
McBurnie replied to the tweet with a ‘100’ emoji, indicating he agrees with that version of events.
Sportsmail has contacted Sheffield United for comment on the footage.
It is not the first time McBurnie finds himself at the centre of controversy, as last year the United star was filmed attacking an insurance broker who poked fun at their relegation from the Premier League in the street.
Elliott Wright claimed to have seen him arguing with a woman in Knaresborough, North Yorks, before jokingly interjecting: ‘Chill out mate. It can’t be worse than getting relegated.’
Footage, which went viral online, then showed McBurnie storming over to Wright, knocking his phone out of his hand and stamping on it before attacking him.
Wright was left with a black eye and cuts to his face from the incident, with the Blades forward accepting a caution for threatening behaviour after being arrested and held in custody overnight.
It is not the first time the United striker has been accused of attacking a member of the public
He was filmed knocking a phone out of a man’s hand and attacking him in the street last year
McBurnie’s Blades team-mate Billy Sharp was also attacked during Tuesday’s pitch invasion
McBurnie has landed himself in hot water on several occasions in the past; picking up a £29,000 fine for drink driving back in July 2020.
The self-confessed Swansea fan was also spotted making a rude gesture towards Cardiff counterparts while attending the South Wales derby in January of the same year.
His alleged attack on a Forest supporter was not the only despicable moment after Tuesday’s play-off semi-final, with the headbutt on Sharp sparking outrage throughout British football.
On Wednesday the assaulted player spoke out on the incident, branding his attacker a ‘scumbag’.
‘One mindless idiot ruined what was an unbelievable night of football,’ Sharp said.
‘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.
Sky Sports cameras captured a Forest supporter headbutting the 36-year-old (bottom left)
Nottingham Forest fan Robert Biggs (pictured), 30, of Derbyshire, entered his guilty plea at Nottingham Magistrate’s Court this morning after being held in custody overnight. He has been sentenced to 24 weeks’ jail.
‘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.’
United boss Paul Heckingbottom had called for the fan to be jailed, saying: ‘Billy was minding his own business and he was assaulted, blind-sided.
‘It was cowardly. Billy is shaken up and he needed stitches. We have the footage. We always see people talking about player safety but nothing is ever done about it.’
The 30-year-old Biggs pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning.
The court heard how he had consumed ‘a quantity of alcohol’ before carrying out the ‘senseless act of violence’, which the judge said demanded a custodial sentence.
He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Sharp – who earns £12,000 per week – as well as a £128 surcharge and £85 costs.
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