‘How dare you do that’ – Ian Holloway slams a Swindon fan who threw an object at the Walsall keeper Myles Roberts in the League Two opener.
Swindon condemned “unacceptable” fan behaviour during their 2-1 loss to Walsall, including an object thrown after a late goal, pyrotechnic use, abuse toward staff and players, and property damage.
The club vowed to impose strict sanctions, including bans and legal action, and will collaborate with Walsall on an investigation.
Manager Ian Holloway called the actions “disgusting” and urged guilty fans to leave the sport.
🗣️ “How dare you do that.”
Swindon manager Ian Holloway after an object appeared to be thrown from an individual in the away end towards Walsall goalkeeper Myles Roberts. pic.twitter.com/x5ijGcTQGt
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 3, 2025
SWINDON STATEMENT:
Swindon Town Football Club are appalled by the unacceptable behaviour of a minority of individuals during our recent fixture against Walsall.
The Club is aware of a number of serious incidents involving the use of pyrotechnics, objects being thrown, abuse directed at stewards, staff, players, and match officials, as well as damage caused to property within the stadium.
This behaviour has absolutely no place at our football club or in the wider game.
We are conducting a full and thorough investigation into these matters and are working closely with Walsall Football Club and the relevant local authorities to identify those responsible.
Let us be clear: any individuals found to have engaged in such actions will face the strictest possible sanctions, including banning orders and legal action where appropriate.
Swindon Town will not tolerate any conduct that endangers the safety of others or damages the reputation of our football club.
We remain grateful to the overwhelming majority of our supporters who continue to follow the team in the right way and uphold the values we stand for.
We urge all fans to play their part in maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment at all our matches — home or away.
If you have any information that could support our investigation, we urge you to contact us in confidence via media@swindontownfc.co.uk.
“That’s not right; that’s not football,” Holloway told BBC Radio Wiltshire.
“You think you’re upset and all of this. Just shut your face and get out of the game. It’s absolutely disgusting.
“You think you’re representing our football club? Then I’m not having you.
“We need them out. We need to find who it is and dob them in. It’s absolutely totally wrong. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
He continued: “Well, my thoughts, I’m a human being and I love this game and I am passionate about it, but I also love other human beings.
“So I love their goalie and I love their team, whether they beat us or whether they don’t.
“And I’m here to represent my wonderful football club in a way that is courteous in defeat, gracious, tenacious as well.
“I want to fight for things, but what you don’t do is rip out a seat and throw it at someone.
“And whoever was stood by the person who did it, I need you to step forward and say, ‘Actually, I’m not having that in football.’ I want to bring my grandchildren to watch my team.
“And I wouldn’t want Walsall thinking that about all of us. So anybody who is stood by that person, and let’s be honest, it’s probably a bloke isn’t it?
“I’m being brutally honest, it ain’t going to be a woman ripping a seat out and throwing it at someone, is it?
“So whoever the bloke is, I want him dogged in because that’s not right. That’s not football.
“You think you’re clever, you think you’re upset and all of this, just shut your face and get out the game. That’s how I feel. It’s absolutely disgusting.
“You think you’re representing our football club, then I’m not having you. So we need them out, we need to find who it is and dob them in.
“It’s absolutely, totally wrong. You should be ashamed of yourself, whoever you are. That’s who it is and that should be not in football.
“It’s not in the women’s game. They’re showing us how to do it, by the way. Well done to the ladies. Well done to England. Well done to Sarina Wiegman.
“But that is disgusting. And if you think that’s allowed in football, and you stand there and you know who it is, then just dob them in. We don’t want these people.
“And we’re not the only ones, are we? No. It’s still in football, isn’t it? So why don’t people who actually see and know who it is, why?
“If it’s your mate, how dare you not sort them out and stop them doing it while they’re trying to do it. Why? What’s the matter with you?
“That’s what’s wrong. It’s society that’s wrong. And these people creep into football and no one does anything about it.
“Well, I’m standing up for a Swindon Town Football Club. We’re a magnificent club and we don’t want this anything to do with us.
“So whoever you are, you should be ashamed of yourself. And I’m going to hunt you down and find you.”
On the game, Holloway said: “The game changed, them going down to 10 men made us favourites in a way but I would have preferred Aaron to have not been fouled with how Walsall set up. They are very good at their five at the back and three in midfield.”
Walsall boss Mat Sadler: “He [Aden Flint] threw everything on the line and headed everything.
“We had six EFL debuts and they showed the way we want to be – together, united, organised, disciplined, athletic, all of the things we want. It was a strange game after the sending off but I am delighted with the way it finished.
“It was never a penalty and the only saving grace was that it didn’t cost us because it was a dreadful decision.
“With backs to the wall that was the moment where one could have turned into two but our group didn’t allow that to be the case and I have to give them incredible credit for that.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Ian Holloway slams the Swindon fan who threw an object at the Walsall keeper…
@WalsallSupTrust: Well said Swindon Town 👏 We’ve also been contacted by the Swindon Supporters Trust, who fully back their club’s statement. As Walsall fans, we know this was the behaviour of a mindless few — we shared drinks with some great Swindon supporters before the game. #UTS #STFC
@stfcjosh: Crazy what the football world has turned into, shouldn’t need to be putting statements out like this. Shame some fans have let the club down big time today.
@JellisSzn: Get them banned for life, clearly don’t represent your fan base
@PaddyStavros: Totally agree. What i don’t get is people wait eagerly all pre season, manage to get a ticket for the game, then have to behave like a moron cos they’ve probably had a couple of pints of Ribena ? Everybody can behave but still enjoy themselves apart from a few tools.
@OneGFB: Statement on fans behaviour week one. We’re so back 🤣🤣
@RICHARD1977: It’s disgusting what happened. Find him and throw him out of our club for life. Support the team. And his friends need to be banned as well. In my opinion
@philwalsall: This has no place in football. Disgusting behaviour.
@jettight19: If your going to do anything stupid just think before you do because you’ll be banned from football possibly ruin it for others and the club is heavily fined for it so this is something no one should even think about doing in 2025 it’s totally unacceptable
@Alex_Kerr9: Well done Ian Holloway for calling this out. Absolutely no place for it.
@DrewThomas11: Good old Holloway rant 🤣 FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!! ❤️
@DavidRHall87: Always had a massive amount of time and respect for Ian Holloway, one of footballs truly good guys. Terrific accent, too.
