Mandela Egbo blasts ‘scummy fans’ who ‘threw punches’ at him after Port Vale’s play-off win

‘How you scummy fans get two free shots and only manage a scratch?’

Swindon Town defender Mandela Egbo has slammed the ‘scummy fans’ who who attacked him after the League Two play-off semi-final on Thursday night.

Port Vale defeated the Robins on penalties to book a trip to the Wembley final against Mansfield Town. However, instead of celebrating their victory, there were ugly scenes on the pitch involving the home fans and away players.

Home fans stormed the pitch at Vale Park after Ellis Iandolo missed his penalty in the shootout, with a number of Swindon players appearing to have been attacked by a group of Vale fans.

The Swindon players attempted to make their way towards the tunnel, but were taunted and targeted on their way across the pitch.

Egbo was one of the players involved in an altercation with home supporters and confirmed on social media that punches were thrown.

However, he did not appear seriously hurt as he sent a message to the ‘scummy’ supporters who attacked him.

The defender wrote on Twitter: “How you scummy fans get two free shots and only manage a scratch?

“And I’m supposed to keep my cool – if I react I’m the bad guy right?”

How you scummy fans get two free shots and only manage a scratch? & I’m supposed to keep my cool – if I react I’m the bad guy right? pic.twitter.com/yEr8Pxs3sA

— Mandela Egbo (@mandela_e) May 19, 2022

Swindon boss slams ‘disgusting’ scenes

Ben Garner spoke about about the ‘disgusting’ scenes after the full-time whistle, revealing that his players had been ‘physically and verbally abused’.

"It's absolutely disgusting"

Swindon Head Coach says his players were "physically and verbally abused" after a pitch invasion after their League Two play-off semi-final. pic.twitter.com/BqPxeNe44b

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 20, 2022

“What they [the Swindon players] have had to put up with coming off that pitch… players have been physically and verbally abused,” he said after the game.

“I know I’ve seen it in some of the other play-off games, I don’t know where we’re going as a country it’s absolutely disgusting.

“That is dangerous, that is so dangerous. Players have been hit, players have been kicked, players have been spat at, players have been verbally abused.

“It’s just not on. Fans think they can come on and they can have a free hit and a free pop and no one player can react to it. If you did that on the street you’d end up in a tear up.

“I just don’t understand it, I just don’t know where this is coming from. Disgusting. It’s disgusting.”

Swindon’s Harry McKirdy claims he was also targeted

Swindon striker Harry McKirdy also hit out at Port Vale’s supporters, claiming they targeted him with bottles, lighters and coins before ‘hitting and kicking’ him and his teammates during the post-match pitch invasion.

Writing on Instagram after a shootout defeat which left him ‘f***ing gutted’, McKirdy wrote: “I’ll take the stick & the songs. But bottles, coins, lighters thrown @ me, running on & hitting & kicking me/team-mates. Too far.

“Somethings got to happen @efl.”