Manager Ian Holloway fumes over the whole process of an investigation leading to Swindon’s Ollie Clarke being banned for seven games.
On the 19th of December, the club ‘strongly condemn’ the decision to ban Ollie Clarke for seven games over two alleged incidents in the game against Cardiff City.
The Robins captain Ollie Clarke has also been hit with a £2,750 fine by an independent FA Regulatory Commission for alleged improper and/or indecent behaviour towards Cardiff players during their Carabao Cup meeting on the 12th of August 2025.
Despite Clarke admitting the charges, Swindon have issued a strong statement condemning the decision, arguing it was based on the lower “balance of probabilities” standard rather than “beyond reasonable doubt”.
The club maintains Clarke’s innocence, saying that the lengthy process has had an impact on the footballer’s mental well-being, while also showing full support for the 33 year old.
Swindon lost 2-1 by Cardiff during the first round of the Carabao Cup, with Clarke coming on as a substitute at half-time and got booked in the 52nd minute.
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) December 19, 2025
On the suspension, Holloway said, per Swindon Advertiser: “I don’t want to talk about it, really. I think I’ll get myself into trouble.
“It’s actually a ridiculous amount of games compared to some of the other things that I’ve seen in football throughout my time.
“I don’t understand how it took this long to deal with it, and our process of talking to them and appealing and all that is absolute nonsense.
“I feel for Ollie, and the lads do. He’s wholehearted, he’s honest, he’s hard-working, and he’s aggressive. What more do you need? But is he overly aggressive? I don’t think so.
“Would he deliberately do something that’s violent conduct? I don’t think so. I think he challenges like I used to. The game’s gone, if you ask me.
“The good news for us is that he’s got the flu right now, so he wouldn’t have been fit today anyway.
“If you go into a court of law in England, you are innocent until proven guilty, not with the FA and not with the EFL. I’m sorry, it doesn’t make sense, and I’m not having it.
“If I get into trouble, I get in trouble. Why am I getting into trouble by telling the truth? I’m not slaughtering anyone. I’m just saying it is absolute nonsense.
“We found out yesterday, after we’ve waited for months and months, and we put in our side of the story.
“They negotiated a deal with us, and then that [the punishment] is not what they negotiated.
“How can you negotiate a deal and then it goes up? It doesn’t make sense.
“If I am saying, from an experienced football person, why should any of us be treated in a different way? Why aren’t character references brought in to this when someone accuses you of something, and they can’t prove it? It doesn’t make sense to me.
“Honestly, it doesn’t make sense. Why has it taken so long? And when you can’t prove it, why is it like this? I don’t get it. We’ll have to accept whatever nonsense they say that it is.”
STATEMENT FROM THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION:
“Regulation and Discipline Update: An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Swindon Town FC’s Oliver Clarke for two incidents of misconduct that took place during their EFL Cup tie against Cardiff City FC on Tuesday 12 August.
“It was alleged that the midfielder acted in an improper manner and/or used indecent behaviour towards an opposing player around the 57th minute and another opposing player around the 94th minute.
“Oliver Clarke admitted the charges against him, and the Regulatory Commission imposed a seven-match suspension and a £2,750 fine following a hearing.
“The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons regarding the decision will be published in due course.”
Club Statement: Ollie Clarke
— Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) December 19, 2025
STATEMENT BY SWINDON:
“Swindon Town Football Club strongly condemns the decision of an independent regulatory panel to sanction Ollie Clarke and impose a seven-match suspension following two alleged incidents during our Carabao Cup fixture against Cardiff City on 12 August 2025.
“The Club believes the decision falls short of the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt and was instead based on the balance of probabilities. Throughout this lengthy process, Ollie Clarke has consistently maintained his innocence, a position that has never wavered.
“We are concerned by the prolonged nature of the proceedings and the impact this process has had on Ollie’s mental well-being.
“As a club captain, Ollie’s character and integrity have never been in question, and he continues to have the full support of the club, the management, and his teammates.
“Swindon Town will continue to support Ollie Clarke fully in the aftermath of this decision.”
