WRITTEN REASONS FOR SWINDON PLAYER BAN

Swindon Towns Ollie Clarke has been given a 7 match ban for " fouling the private parts" of two of our players
Is he in need of psychiatric help?

Cardiff City star 'visibly upset and struggling to speak' after being violated by opponent


Tuesday 13th Jan 2026



The Swindon Town player was slapped with a seven-match ban and was fined for the incidents


The Football Association have laid bare the reasons behind Swindon Town captain Ollie Clarke’s seven-match ban, revealing how a Cardiff City player was left “very emotional” and “struggling to speak” after what an independent panel described as a “highly invasive” and “violating” act.

Clarke was handed the lengthy suspension in December following two separate incidents during Swindon’s Carabao Cup first-round defeat at Cardiff City on August 12.

While the punishment itself was confirmed last month, the FA have now published their full written reasons, which outline why the Regulatory Commission deemed the midfielder’s actions to be so serious.

According to the FA, Clarke admitted two charges of misconduct under Rule E3 in relation to incidents in the 57th and 94th minutes of the tie. The commission concluded both were intentional acts of improper and indecent behaviour towards Cardiff players.

In his official match report, referee Elliot Bell described the immediate aftermath of the second incident, writing that an unnamed Cardiff City player approached him “visibly upset”, adding that the player was “very emotional and struggled to speak”.

The commission said that reaction was a key aggravating factor when determining punishment.

“In respect of Charge 2, the Commission considered the actions of the Player to, again, be highly violating and intentional foul play, with the further aggravated factor of the incident occurring 37 minutes after the first incident within the same match”.

The panel also made clear that Clarke’s status as Swindon captain did little to mitigate the offences.

Instead, they viewed the emotional impact on the Cardiff players involved as more significant than Clarke’s disciplinary record or character references submitted in his defence.

While the FA’s sanctioning guidelines list a six-match ban as the standard punishment for spitting at an opponent, the commission ruled Clarke’s second offence was even more serious than violent conduct.

“The indecency of this action requires an immediate sporting sanction of no less than six matches,” they concluded.

Taking both incidents together, the panel applied a starting point of nine matches before reducing the punishment to seven under the principle of totality. Clarke was also fined £2,750.

The decision sparked fury from Swindon boss Ian Holloway, with the Robins boss accusing the FA of inconsistency and describing the ban as “ridiculous”.

Holloway insisted Clarke, 33, was a “[i]hard-working and aggressive[/]” player rather than a violent one and questioned how long the disciplinary process had taken.

However, the newly-released written reasons show the commission were unwavering in their assessment, repeatedly emphasising the seriousness, intent and impact of Clarke’s actions.

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Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

The world has changed and its might now be considered a technical sexual assault?

It’s happened before many times, but it doesn’t make it right; particularly in the ‘new’ climate, and if the ‘offended upon’ player feels his privacy (excuse the pun) was invaded

Vinny Jones would have been banned for life!

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Games gone

Someone once grabbed my nuts when I was marking him and my studs went straight down the back of his calf.

He didn't do it again.

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

I had it happen to me in an under 15s game, next corner when he tried doing it again I stamped down on his foot with studs and he didn't do it again, like I said im not saying its right and it shouldn't happen but to be visibly upset etc is embarrassing

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

I had it happen to me in an under 15s game, next corner when he tried doing it again I stamped down on his foot with studs and he didn't do it again, like I said im not saying its right and it shouldn't happen but to be visibly upset etc is embarrassing

I’d do the same mate but youngsters nowadays aren’t cut from the same cloth and eradicating stuff like this is a positive thing.

I personally think it's more the way of the world today and not Clarke having an issue. In 1988 in a game between Wimbledon and Newcastle Vinnie Jones famously grabbed Gazza's nuts and most people found it funny including Gazza (afterwards).

Unfortunately nowadays most people have had their sense of humour slowly drained from them by the mainstream media.

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

I had it happen to me in an under 15s game, next corner when he tried doing it again I stamped down on his foot with studs and he didn't do it again, like I said im not saying its right and it shouldn't happen but to be visibly upset etc is embarrassing

Why is it embarrassing?

Played for years and nobody ever grabbed my genitals
Perhaps I’m too ugly.

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

I had it happen to me in an under 15s game, next corner when he tried doing it again I stamped down on his foot with studs and he didn't do it again, like I said im not saying its right and it shouldn't happen but to be visibly upset etc is embarrassing

Why is it embarrassing?

I get being angry over it but near crying over it is embarrassing in my eyes, may not be in your eyes.

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

I had it happen to me in an under 15s game, next corner when he tried doing it again I stamped down on his foot with studs and he didn't do it again, like I said im not saying its right and it shouldn't happen but to be visibly upset etc is embarrassing

I’d do the same mate but youngsters nowadays aren’t cut from the same cloth and eradicating stuff like this is a positive thing.

I’ve actually looked at the squad that played the game and it wasn’t the youth at all so I am misguided with that thinking. Still doesn’t make the act any less reprehensible but wanted to correct my precious assumption.

Even so, some of our more established players are still very young

Games gone

It went years ago.

I posted the exact nature of the offences on here a few weeks back but the post got removed!

Let’s just say the second offence was a bit more personal than a grab of the nut sack !

I took a Swindon season ticket relative to this game so had it on good authority / it was common knowledge in the stands of the county ground weeks ago as he’s one of their main players. Odd behaviour from their player to say the least .

Games gone

It went years ago.[/quote..

Yep, its fooked.. I still have an ST but get my buzz from the Big Match.

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

Wouldn't say they're a young player

Not condoning it by any means but our player was visibly upset and struggling to speak? Embarrassing

Could have been one of our young players, why should they have to put up with this shit? It’s 2026 not 1986, move on

Wouldn't say they're a young player

I’ve commented again on that point. Age is in fact irrelevant, it’s weird and wrong regardless

My uncle used to do it to me all the time but you never saw me complaining

Swindon Town player needs to be sent to one of those countries that would treat him to get him back on the heterosexual track

Swindon Town player needs to be sent to one of those countries that would treat him to get him back on the heterosexual track

Send Dagasthan, 2/3 years and forget.