Nottingham Forest are "appalled" after a supporter "assaulted" Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp following the Championship playoff semi-final between the two teams on Tuesday.
Forest prevailed on penalties at the City Ground after the two teams were locked at 3-3 on aggregate after extra time.
The result prompted a pitch invasion from the delirious home support, which left a number of the Sheffield United players and staff looking on from the sideline, including Sharp. Footage then appears to show a man run towards the 36-year-old head first, knocking him to the ground.
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Forest have since released a statement condemning the actions of the individual.
"Nottingham Forest Football Club are appalled to learn that our former player, Billy Sharp, was assaulted leaving the pitch after tonight’s match at The City Ground," it read.
"The Club will work with the authorities to locate the individual in order they are held to account for their actions, which will include a life ban from Nottingham Forest.
"The Club would also like to apologise to Billy personally and to Sheffield United Football Club."
Nottingham Police have also released a statement, in which they say they will "look to make an arrest as soon as possible."
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom confirmed that Sharp needed stitches after the apparent assault and called for the person who committed the act to be punished.
"It is a prison sentence waiting to happen," he said after the game. "He was assaulted on the blind side, it's cowardly and he was knocked to the ground. It's assault and we've seen one of our players attacked.
"He has had stitches and is shaken up. His safety was put at risk at a place of work. We have the footage and something will be done about it. Bill was minding his own business off the pitch, trying to get our players away."
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Forest defender Michael Dawson branded the person who collided with Sharp "an absolute disgrace."
Sharp has long been regarded as one of the most prolific finishers in the Football League and is currently in his second spell with the Sheffield club. He spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Forest from Southampton.
