Ian Holloway Delivers Generational Rant Over 'Disgusting' Decision to Ban His Captain

Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway branded the FA and the EFL as 'cowards' during a furious three-minute rant over their 'disgusting' decision to ban his captain Ollie Clarke.

The 33-year-old midfielder played in the 1-0 win over Luton in the EFL Trophy last month despite still serving a seven-match suspension.

Swindon were also fined £1,000 as part of the punishment.

Clarke had been banned for seven matches by the Football Association for what was deemed to be 'highly violating and intentional foul play' on the 'private body parts' of two opponents during a Carabao Cup tie against Cardiff City in August.

The club were charged with a second count of fielding an ineligible player against Luton, with substitute Aaron Drinan being brought on at half-time despite not being named on the official teamsheet. That charge will be heard on Monday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire after his Robins side defeated Barrow 3-1 in League Two on Saturday, Holloway spoke of his fury at the FA's decision to ban Clarke just a day before their latest match - before launching into an astonishing rant at both English football's governing body and the EFL.

"They've hampered me, as a manager," he began. "How are they allowed to say he's banned for tomorrow [Saturday], and I've got no time to train my team?

"I've rung the LMA [League Managers' Association]. You know what I can do about any of it? Absolutely nothing. And now we've got another one [an FA hearing] on Monday, which is an absolute charade.

"I've just asked all the officials today - if I tried to put someone on at half-time who's not named on the teamsheet, whose responsibility is that to let him go on? Because I could easily use one of the other ones.

"They said, quite honestly, 'Yeah, it'd be ours'. I said, 'Well, don't do that again today, then'. Why are we blaming everyone else? It's disgusting.

"They want to fine me? Good. They want to ban me? Good. Do it. Have a look at yourselves, every god damn one of you. Absolutely disgusting.

"I care about my team. I care about my captain. I care about my players. And I should be allowed to prepare, professionally.

"And if anybody wants to say, 'Oh, you should have been professional'. I tell you what's professional.

"She [Swindon club secretary] looked on the portal. She made one mistake by pressing the wrong button, and the wrong name went down on these horrible computers that are going to take over the world in the end.

"So I forgive her that mistake. But the referee and the fourth official let her down at half-time. And the portal let her down.

"Apparently, she should have checked, with the handbook.

🗣️ "Have a look at yourselves"

A furious post-match reaction from Ian Holloway on Ollie Clarke's ban being announced on the eve of today's win over Barrow.

Hear his full reaction on @BBCSounds 🎧
👉 https://t.co/504V4jL6Me#STFC #BBCFootball #BBCEFL pic.twitter.com/NeREpzmCGt

— BBC Wiltshire Sport (@BBCWiltsSport) January 31, 2026

"Sort your lives out, every single stinking one of you. That's how I feel.

"We're going to get absolutely not listened to, they're all too big to admit... and the pair of them don't even get on anyway. The FA and the EFL. They do not get on. They do not like each other... it's a joke.

"I've been in front of them God knows how many times, because I'm passionate. And I'm not having our club secretary dragged through the coals, left, right and centre. You have a look at yourselves first. I know how wrong you all are. Cowards."

He concluded the three-minute rant by calmly stating: "Anyway, back to the football..."

The Football Association have so far declined to comment.