Billy Sharp: Sheffield United captain assaulted after play-off defeat by Nottingham Forest

The police are investigating after Billy Sharp was attacked by a fan at the end of the Championship play-off final.

The supporter charged at Sharp as the player stood on the sideline.

After the two legs finished 3-3 on aggregate, Forest won on penalties.

Sharp needed stitches, while Forest say they areappalled.

After the match at Forest's City Ground, Heckingbottom said that one of their players had been attacked.

Bill was trying to get our players away from him. It was cowardice for him to be blindsided. He was knocked to the ground and had to have stitches.

The police will be looking to make an arrest as soon as possible, as they are still trying to identify the person.

We have seen the footage, as many others will have who watched the televised match, and we are appealing for anyone who knows who the culprit is to contact us as soon as possible.

We have spoken to the player concerned and we are working with both clubs which are supporting us with our investigation, which will continue through the night.

Sharp, who did not play in the game because of an injury, played for Forest on loan in the 2012-13 season.

Forest said the fan would be banned for life.

Billy Sharp, a former player for the club, was attacked after the match at The City Ground.

The club will work with the authorities to locate the individual in order for them to be held to account for their actions, which will include a life ban fromNottingham Forest.

The club would like to apologize to Billy personally.

After the game, Heckingbottom told Sky Sports how he could not come to his place of work and mind his own business. Everything that is wrong is bang out of order.

You hear a lot of people condemning it, but nothing is done and we are the ones who suffer. It is upsetting but it will be dealt with.

Sky Sports pundit and former Forest defender Michael Dawson called it a disgrace.

In January, the UK's football policing lead told the BBC that arrests at football matches across the top five English leagues were at their highest levels in years, with fan disorder getting worse.