Nottingham (AP) – After the attack on Sheffield captain Billy Sharp, a supporter of the English second division soccer team Nottingham Forest has been sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for assault.
The 30-year-old headbutted the unsuspecting Sharp as thousands of fans stormed the field after Forest’s win over Sheffield United in the second leg of the semi-finals of the English Football Championship and knocked him to the ground with full force. Sharp then required medical treatment.
Nottingham won 3-2 on penalties and will play Huddersfield Town in the final on 29 May.
Police investigations were launched immediately after the incident, and the Derbyshire man was arrested on Wednesday. He has now been banned from attending football matches for an additional ten years.
“Hopefully cases like this will serve as a deterrent to anyone who is considering getting involved in violent altercations at football matches. Such incidents will be taken extremely seriously and football clubs and those involved will be held accountable,” Nottingham Deputy Police Chief Rob Griffin said on Thursday .