Oli McBurnie and Rhian Brewster charged with common assault after play-off

SHEFFIELD UNITED’S Rhian Brewster and Oli McBurnie have been charged with common assault by the police following the ugly play-off semi-final scenes at Nottingham Forest.

The duo will appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on July 28.

Blades striker Billy Sharp was headbutted by a fan after Forest supporters invaded the City Ground pitch having clinched a place at Wembley on penalties. 

Footage then emerged of Brewster, 22, and McBurnie, 26, in an altercation with another fan George Brinkley. 

Both “strenuously deny” the charges having voluntarily engaged in interviews with Nottinghamshire Police. 

A Nottinghamshire Police statement read: “Two men have been informed that summonses have been issued following an incident at the end of a football match between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.

“Rhian Brewster, aged 22, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, and Oli McBurnie, aged 26, of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, are to be charged with common assault in relation to disorder at the conclusion of a game at the City Ground on 17 May 2022.

“Both men are due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 28 July 2022.”

Sheffield United said: “We are disappointed to learn that Rhian Brewster and Oli McBurnie have been charged. 

“Both players voluntarily engaged in interviews with Nottinghamshire Police in the aftermath of the fixture which saw their team-mate, Billy Sharp, the victim of assault in the chaos which followed the final whistle.

“Brewster and McBurnie strenuously deny the charges brought against them and football manager Paul Heckingbottom, who wrote letters to the League Managers’ Association, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the EFL and FA following a number of pitch invasions last month, including one involving Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, is continuing discussions with key stakeholders in a bid to better protect players and staff in their place of work.”

Sharp was knocked to the ground and required four stitches after being attacked by Forest season ticket holder Robert Biggs.

Biggs pleaded guilty in May to assault and occasioning actual bodily harm. 

The club said they will ban the 30-year-old for life, while he was also handed a 10-year football banning order. 

Biggs’ defence solicitor said he had handed himself in to police after seeing video footage of the attack on social media.

They said Biggs had drunk “a quantity of alcohol” and “just followed” two friends on to the pitch.