Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has been handed a six-week ban from all football over three breaches linked to the club’s spying on opposition training sessions.
The Football Association has suspended the punishment until the end of next season, meaning Eckert will not serve the ban unless he commits another offence during the period.
He has also been fined £28,000 and formally reprimanded.
The FA investigation followed the scandal that saw Southampton expelled from last season’s Championship play-offs after the club admitted to observing training sessions belonging to Middlesbrough, Oxford United and Ipswich Town.
Eckert Admits He Was Wrong
The three incidents occurred across 2025 and 2026 and involved Southampton staff gathering information about their opponents during training.
In relation to Middlesbrough, Eckert told the disciplinary panel that he had asked during a preparation meeting whether it was possible to establish whether midfielder Hayden Hackney had returned to training.
An assistant subsequently told him that Middlesbrough’s training ground was located on a golf course accessible to members of the public.
Eckert said he then agreed that someone should be sent to establish whether Hackney was training, while insisting that he did not specifically request video footage or nominate an individual to carry out the observation.
He nevertheless accepted that asking for any form of observation had been wrong.
An intern was sent to the area and was later spotted by Middlesbrough.
Eckert was subsequently shown a breakdown of footage that included information about the expected Middlesbrough line-up.
Although he said he had already completed his match preparations, Eckert acknowledged that he watched the videos.
Oxford and Ipswich Incidents Also Considered
The FA panel also examined two other incidents involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town.
For the Oxford incident, Eckert explained that Gary Rowett had been dismissed and replaced by Craig Short on an interim basis.
He said he wanted to establish whether Oxford intended to use a back four or a back five and therefore sent someone to observe their training.
In the Ipswich case, Eckert accepted footage of the club training at National League side Eastleigh ahead of Southampton’s fixture against them.
The FA charged him over all three incidents.
Panel Praises Eckert’s Conduct During Hearing
Eckert was the only witness heard by the disciplinary panel, which included two King’s Counsel.
The panel described him as an “exceptionally impressive” witness and highlighted what it considered to be his genuine contrition.
Eckert, who is 33, argued that observing opponents’ training had been commonplace during his previous coaching experience in Germany and Italy.
He said he had not understood that such conduct breached the rules in England.
He also strongly rejected suggestions that he had bullied younger members of staff into carrying out spying activities, describing those allegations as extremely upsetting.
Eckert told the panel that he would never force a member of staff to do something they considered morally objectionable, particularly something that breached football regulations.
The panel concluded that there had been no “systemic or organised course of action” involving spying at Southampton.
It also identified “considerable mitigation”, citing Eckert’s “deep and meaningful” remorse and its assessment that he had learned from the incidents.
Southampton Welcomes FA Decision
Southampton said it welcomed the conclusion of the FA disciplinary process and described the episode as a regrettable period in the club’s history.
The club said measures had been introduced to prevent similar errors in judgment from occurring again.
Southampton also thanked supporters for their backing throughout the disciplinary proceedings.
Club owner Dragan Solak said he was pleased that the independent panel had reached its decision and recognised the punishment Southampton had already faced.
He said Eckert had been able to speak openly during the FA process and described him as “a good person who made poor decisions”.
Solak also criticised the EFL’s handling of the earlier proceedings, while expressing his belief in Eckert’s coaching ability.
Spygate Led to Southampton’s Play-Off Expulsion
The FA case followed a separate EFL disciplinary process triggered by revelations that a Southampton staff member had been found near Middlesbrough’s training ground ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final.
Southampton were subsequently expelled from the play-offs and given a four-point deduction.
The club admitted that staff had also observed training sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town.
Middlesbrough were reinstated into the play-off competition and subsequently lost the final to Hull City.
Southampton appealed against their expulsion, but the appeal was rejected.
Dispute Escalated Before FA Hearing
The controversy continued after leaked messages appeared to show an intern being praised following one of the spying operations, including a message stating: “You legend. Manager loved it!”
The FA formally charged Eckert on July 22 with three misconduct breaches relating to the observation of opposition training sessions.
Ahead of his hearing, Southampton asked the FA to consider the punishment already imposed on the club by the EFL.
Eckert also publicly argued that Southampton had already received a “big, big punishment”, while chief executive Phil Parsons urged the FA panel to consider the scale of the sanctions already imposed on the club.
Timeline of the Spygate Case
May 7 — Spying Allegations Revealed
Daily Mail Sport reported that a Southampton first-team analyst had allegedly been caught hiding near Middlesbrough’s training ground while recording a session ahead of the Championship play-off semi-final.
May 8 — EFL Charges Southampton
The EFL charged Southampton with breaching regulations requiring clubs to act in “the utmost good faith” and preventing them from observing an opponent’s training within 72 hours of a match.
May 10 — Eckert Declines to Discuss Allegations
Eckert refused to answer questions about the allegations at a tense post-match press conference before leaving the media briefing.
May 13 — Image of Alleged Operation Published
An image apparently showing a Southampton analyst hiding behind a tree while filming Middlesbrough training was published, alongside questions about a possible paper trail.
May 14–15 — Expulsion Threat Emerges
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could be removed from the play-offs. Middlesbrough publicly called for their expulsion.
May 19 — Southampton Expelled
An independent disciplinary commission removed Southampton from the Championship play-offs and imposed a four-point deduction for the following season.
May 20–21 — Appeal Rejected
Southampton’s appeal against the expulsion was rejected, confirming Middlesbrough’s place in the play-off final.
June 1–2 — Leaked Messages Surface
A leaked WhatsApp exchange appeared to show an intern being praised after a spying operation, intensifying scrutiny surrounding Southampton’s conduct.
July 22 — FA Charges Eckert
The FA charged Eckert with three breaches of its misconduct rules relating to the observation of opposition training.
September 21 — Southampton Seek Leniency
The club asked the FA to take its previous EFL punishment into account as Eckert’s hearing approached.
October 7 — Suspended Six-Week Ban Issued
The FA handed Eckert a six-week suspension from football, suspended until the end of next season, alongside a £28,000 fine and reprimands.
