Ian Holloway has strongly condemned the behavior of a Swindon Town fan who threw an object at Walsall goalkeeper Myles Roberts during their recent League Two match. The incident occurred at Bescot Stadium following Connor Barrett's 91st-minute goal, which secured a 2-1 victory for Walsall. Roberts was on the ground with an apparent calf injury when the object landed near him. The nature of the object is currently unknown, though it was retrieved by Barrett and handed to the referee.
Holloway, the Swindon Town manager, didn't hold back his feelings, describing the act as "absolutely horrific". Addressing the unidentified fan directly, Holloway stated on Swindon's YouTube channel: "Whoever you are, you're not a Swindon fan. I'm not having you, and I hope you get caught. That is absolutely horrific. How dare you put our club in the situation you've just done". He further asserted, "We don't want you in football".
In an interview with BBC Radio Wiltshire, Holloway expressed his disgust, saying, "That's not right; that's not football...Just shut your face and get out of the game. It's absolutely disgusting". He emphasized that such behavior does not represent the club and called for the individual to be identified and removed from the sport. "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," Holloway stated.
Swindon Town has launched an investigation into the incident and has stated they are aware of "a number of serious incidents" during the match. These include the use of pyrotechnics, objects being thrown, abuse directed at stewards, staff, players, and match officials, as well as damage to property within the stadium. The club has made it clear that any individuals found to be involved in such actions will face the strictest possible sanctions, including banning orders and legal action. They are working with Walsall to conduct a thorough investigation.
Holloway has vowed to "hunt you down and find you," in regards to the fan who threw the object. He also stated, "If you've ripped a seat out and thrown it at somebody, I just can't stand you, whoever you are. And I will find you. I want us to find that person, and shame them".
This incident has sparked outrage and reignited discussions about fan behavior in sports. There are increasing calls for accountability to ensure that such actions are prevented in the future. Similar incidents, such as the throwing of a sex toy onto a WNBA court, have also drawn condemnation and highlight the need for improved security and responsible fan conduct.
