Oli McBurnie: Footballer's relief after being cleared of assault

Sheffield United player Oli McBurnie was cleared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court

A footballer says he is "over the moon" after he was cleared of assaulting a fan who invaded the pitch following a play-off match.

Oli McBurnie had denied stamping on Nottingham Forest fan George Brinkley, who went on to the pitch after his side beat Sheffield United on penalties on 17 May.

A trial concluded on Thursday.

Mr McBurnie - current joint-top scorer in the Championship - thanked everyone for their "ongoing support".

'Mad few months'

The trial heard a pitch invasion began at Forest's City Ground following the penalty shoot-out, with the home side edging McBurnie's Blades on their way to Wembley and promotion to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old had not been playing in the match and was wearing a protective boot on his left leg due to an injury, but a viral video filmed by a Forest fan on the pitch was claimed to have shown a stamp on a fan on the ground.

A judge dismissed the case, saying the footage showed the Scotland international lifting his leg over Mr Brinkley.

After the case, Mr McBurnie posted a message to social media, describing the situation as "a mad few months" in which he had to "hear a lot of lies about me".

"Over the moon with the outcome in court [on Thursday], although I'm not sure how it got that far," he said.

"The truth always comes out in the end."

Mr McBurnie's side sit second in the Championship - a position that would see them earn promotion if they stay there until the end of the season.