Harry McKirdy has been punished after throwing a drink over a referee’s suit during the Swindon v Salford goalless draw in August 2022.
A report has emerged with the Robins striker Harry McKirdy facing an FA charge of improper conduct after he went into the match officials’ room at the County Ground and smashed a bottle of protein drink, which spilled over the referee’s suit.
McKirdy was livid after being sent off by referee Andy Woolmer just before half time for a second bookable offence in Swindon’s 0-0 draw with Salford.
His first yellow card was for dissent, before a second was brandished out of the officials pocket for a foul near the halfway line.
After the challenge, McKirdy could be seen sat on the ground with the opposition player hurt, he watched the referee walk over, before giving a seemingly sarcastic reaction to getting sent off.
He was further aggrieved because he felt he should have been given a penalty 20 minutes earlier.
Sky Sports News say they have been told that, after going down the tunnel, he first went into the kit room and threw a number of items to vent his frustration.
McKirdy then saw the referee’s changing room door open, and – thinking it was half-time – went in to confront the referee, only to find the room empty, so threw a protein drink against the wall which burst, and went everywhere including the official’s change of clothes.
The 25-year-old served a one-match ban for the sending off, but he is likely to face a much tougher punishment from the Football Association for what happened in the changing room.
Since his suspension, McKirdy has found the net in his last two matches, and his form has attracted transfer interest from clubs in the Championship, League One and the Scottish Premiership.
The FA has charged McKirdy with a breach of Rule E3 – using aggressive and/or improper behaviour, in an incident which was outside the jurisdiction of the match officials. An independent commission will be called to hear the case, with written evidence provided from all sides. No date has yet been set for the hearing.
Swindon Town have stressed to Sky Sports News that they have co-operated fully with the FA investigation, as well as launching their own internal inquiry, with plans to amend their procedures, depending on the FA’s findings.
Harry McKirdy loves causing a stir, and it seems his past antics got then-Newport player Kevin Ellison wasting no time in sticking the boot into the Swindon player after the former Exiles loanee’s costly penalty miss in the League Two playoffs.
Port Vale set up a playoff final clash with Mansfield for the final promotion spot, knocking out Swindon by winning the penalty shootout 6-5 with McKirdy firing a wild effort over the bar before Josh Davison saw his effort to win the game saved, then Ellis Iandolo missed the target.
Earlier this season Ellison called the 25-year-old ‘mouthy’ – using more Scouse phrase – after the Swindon man posted a picture of the pair in November’s EFL Trophy clash with the caption “Harry Potter running away from Voldemort”.
Ellison took to social media after the skied spot-kick.
“What you saying McKirdy? #karma,” he posted, mocking the ballooned penalty and getting plenty of positive reactions from his County teammates.
What you saying Mckirdy 🤪 #karma it’s made round to go around ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/nIuKxfbOj8
— KEVINELLY (@KEVIN11ELLISON) May 19, 2022
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McKirdy and his fellow teammates were also targeted by Port Vale fans after they stormed the pitch to celebrate their win.
Swindon boss Ben Garner revealed at the time: “My players have been physically and verbally abused after the game, it’s absolutely disgusting.
“It’s disappointing what they’ve had to put up with coming off that pitch.”
“I’ve seen (it) in some of the other play-off games. I don’t know where we’re going to as a country, but it’s absolutely disgusting.
“To lose like that was really cruel. But the way they’ve conducted themselves, the effort they’ve put in, I’m so proud of all my players.”
Harry McKirdy has also been getting talked about, whether its laughs at his haircut or doing a good deed chatting, gifting and spending time with fans with special needs.
Fairplay Mckirdy gets his fair amount of abuse but wow what a moment for them kids, a memory they won’t ever forget 👏❤️ pic.twitter.com/3ASqOeij1c
— Josh (@stfcjosh) August 20, 2022
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