A 30-year-old man has been jailed for headbutting Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp at Tuesday’s play-off semi-final at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
Nottingham Forest season-ticket holder Robert Biggs, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm which left Sharp requiring four stitches to a wound on his lip.
He was jailed at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for 24 weeks.
Billy Sharp
Mike Egerton
Nottingham Forest fans celebrate on the pitch after they reach the play-off final
Zac Goodwin
Prosecutor Marianne Connally said the incident was caught by cameras covering the Championship semi-final for live television.
Ms Connally told the court: “A large number of fans entered the field of play."
She added: “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 headbutts Mr Sharp.
“The Crown’s case is that this is a deliberate and senseless act of violence.”
District Judge Grace Leong told Biggs: “The video clip proves to me that you were running towards Billy Sharp and that you dodged all the other spectators to get towards him.
“I am of the view that it was a targeted act of aggression… even if it was not premeditated.
“The forceful impact resulted in a very unpleasant injury to Mr Sharp.
“You must have seen him fall over but you did not stop to check if he was alright or whether he was seriously injured.
“This is so serious that a custodial sentence must be imposed.”
Biggs, who appeared in court in custody, also received a 10-year football banning order.
He was told that separate charge of illegally entering the playing surface had been dropped.
