Nottingham Forest fan claims Sheffield United star Oli McBurnie ‘stamped’ on him after pitchside ‘banter’ | UK News

A Nottingham Forest fan allegedly stamped by Sheffield United player Oli McBurnie has claimed the footballer attacked him after telling the star: “You’re an ass at football, I’m better than you.”

George Brinkley, 27, told Nottingham Magistrates’ Court that he seriously feared for his life during the attack, where he claims he was put in a headlock by McBurnie’s team-mate Rhian Brewster.

The incident happened on May 17 during a pitch invasion after last year’s championship playoff semifinals at the City Ground.

Prosecutors said Scotland international McBurnie, who was wearing protective boots because of an injury, suffered “a loss of temper and control” as Brinkley Forest celebrated their penalty shootout win.

McBurnie, 26, who has scored nine goals in 18 games this season, denies a single charge of assault by punching and claims he lost his balance after trying to help another team-mate.

When the court was shown social media footage allegedly capturing the attack, Mr Brinkley said he entered the pitch from the Peter Taylor stand because Forest achieved an “adrenaline” in the Wembley final.

Giving his report to a circuit judge via video link to a witness room, Mr Brinkley said he was seated near the dugout in the second row of the stands for the game.

He told the court: “I spoke to a couple of (United) players at half-time.

“I said, ‘Oli McBurnie, you’re an ass at football, I’m better than you and I’m not a pro’.”

Mr Brinkley said former Swansea City and Barnsley player McBurnie heard the comment, adding: “He answered me laughing and said ‘You look the way you are’.

“I said ‘enjoy the championship next season’. I had a smile on my face. Hopefully it came off that way because I was joking.

When asked by prosecutor Simon Jones how McBurnie had responded, Mr Brinkley said: “He had a grin on his face – quite patronizing … and looked down on me.”

“Head on the Ground”

Shortly after Forest’s 3-2 penalty shootout win, Mr Brinkley told the court he “celebrated with the two guys right behind me” before jumping over the billboards.

He told the court he was hugging Forest defender Steve Cook along with other fans but then remarked that United striker Billy Sharp had a nosebleed to which his reaction was ‘shock’.

Mr Brinkley then described how he was “tied to the ground”.

“Oli McBurnie stomped on me once, stomped on me twice, then stomped on me a third time but was then pulled away.

“My immediate reaction was to kick him, but I didn’t do it because I knew what the repercussions would be.”

He added that he fears for his life because his head is “very sensitive” due to previous head injuries.

McBurnie’s solicitor, Lisa Judge, asked Mr Brinkley if he was suggesting the striker singled him out of a crowd and attacked him “just because you said he was a bloody footballer”.

Ms Judge asked: “He (McBurnie) said, ‘Aha, that’s the man who said I’m a frigging footballer, I’m gonna step on him?'”

Mr. Brinkley replied, “I think so.”

The court was told that McBurnie, from North Yorkshire, claims he had no physical contact with Mr Brinkley.

The footballer also said in a statement to police that he lost his balance slightly after being injured for several weeks.

His statement added: “My intention has actually always been to make sure I don’t make such contact with him.”

The process goes on.