Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp discovers punishment after Wrexham referee comments

Billy Sharp, the Sheffield United skipper, has discovered his punishment from the FA after admitting a charge related to comments he made about the referee following his side’s FA Cup victory over Wrexham earlier this month.

Ex-Blade warns Blades to avoid Owls’ mistakes over “strange” takeover

Sharp admitted that his comments constituted improper conduct after the FA said they “imply bias and/or attack the integrity of the referee” and has been fined £2,500 and warned for the future by an independent regulatory commission.

In a brutally-honest post-match interview after his side’s replay victory over the National League promotion chasers, Sharp admitted he thought the referee had been “helping Wrexham” with his performance.

Wrexham were awarded a contentious penalty when Anel Ahmedhodzic pulled back Paul Mullin outside the area and Sharp, whose side face Spurs in the fifth round on Wednesday night, said after the game: “I am glad we’ve beaten them.

Blades’ Harry Kane approach revealed as they eye Spurs cup shock

“They are doing well in their league and we are doing well in ours, but I wasn’t happy with a few of their players there.

“The way they’ve been as a club before the game, eyeing up Spurs before the game - they had not even beaten us.

“They thought we would just roll over when they got back in it and I think the referee was helping them as well ... I don’t think he gave me one foul all night.”

Blades struck by illness ahead of Spurs cup clash, defender assessed