Scotland striker Oli McBurnie 'hopped over fan to protect injured foot'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scotland striker on trial for assault in England has told a court he didn't stamp on a pitch-invading fan.Oli McBurnie, who plays for EFL Championship side Sheffield United, claimed he hopped over the alleged victim to protect his injured foot.

But prosecutors allege the 26-year-old suffered “a loss of temper and control” and twice stamped on Nottingham Forest supporter George Brinkley after United’s play-off semi-final defeat in May.Mr Brinkley, 27, told a court on Wednesday that he was singled out among hundreds of fans on the pitch at the City Ground and attacked, after telling the star: “You’re s*** at football.” A social media video of the incident, which went viral, has been played to McBurnie’s trial, which prosecutors allege shows stamping motions.Giving evidence in his defence at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, the player said he was wearing a protective boot at the time of the incident.

The PA news agency reports he had spent six weeks out injured with three broken metatarsal bones and a torn ligament.McBurnie, of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, told the court: “About a week before I was allowed to start putting pressure back on to that foot.

It was like learning to walk again a little bit.”Describing the pitch invasion as “manic to say the least”, McBurnie denied being angry after United’s penalty shoot-out defeat. “It was more consolement with the rest of the boys,” he said.Explaining why he went towards Mr Brinkley, McBurnie said he was going to the aid of teammate Rhian Brewster, after seeing Blades captain Billy Sharp falling to the floor with a man in a yellow shirt running away from him.