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Spygate: Southampton boss Tonda Eckert keeps job after receiving six-week suspended ban and £28,000 fine
Southampton say Tonda Eckert's punishment "brings a conclusion to a regrettable period of our history”; Saints were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after admitting to "multiple breaches" of unauthorised filming of their opponents' training
Wednesday 7 October 2026 16:40, UK
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert will continue in his role after being handed a six-week ban suspended until the end of next season over the 'Spygate' scandal.
Saints were kicked out of the Championship play-off final and docked four points this term having admitted three breaches of EFL regulations after being caught snooping on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough and two other teams.
Eckert accepted full responsibility and was charged by the FA with three breaches of Rule E3.1 in relation to "misconduct", which hung over Southampton and their manager heading into the new campaign.
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This ends 'regrettable period in our history' - Southampton
The German coach attended an FA hearing at the start of the international break and is able to continue his role against rivals Portsmouth this Sunday and beyond.
A statement from the governing body read: "Tonda Eckert subsequently admitted the charges, and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed a six-week suspension from all football and football-related activity, which is suspended until the end of the 2027/28 season, a £28,000 fine and a reprimand following a hearing.
"The suspended sanction will come into effect in the event he is found to have committed a breach of Rules or Regulations by requesting, authorising, taking, or using information from any observation of the training of another club, in whatever guise that observation may take."
The punishment is likely to draw strong opinions from across the game, with Southampton saying in a statement "this now brings a conclusion to a regrettable period of our history".
The club, who sit 13th in the Championship, say "measures have been put in place to ensure that such errors in judgement never happen again at our club" and they are "excited to move forward together towards a bright future".
Saints owner criticises EFL over Spygate handling
Southampton owner Dragan Solak said: "I'm pleased that the independent panel has come to a decision and that we have an outcome.
"We have already suffered enough, and we appreciate the panel's recognition of that.
"We are confident the manager has learned from this matter, and a suspended sentence allows him to continue in his role.
"I firmly believe that Tonda is one of Europe's most exciting young coaches, and with this distraction removed, I am confident he can lead the team to a successful season. I'd like to thank our fans for standing by us and showing the team so much support during a time when we have needed them more than ever.
"The FA process has been a positive experience. Tonda has been given the opportunity to be open and honest with the panel, and the panel has been able to see that he is simply a good person who made poor decisions.
"The same cannot be said for the EFL process, and the way they have subsequently treated us is not something we will forget.
"However, now is the time to look forward to what I believe will be a great future for our club."
Sky Sports News has approached the EFL regarding the Southampton owner's comments criticising the organisation's handling of the case.
The Southampton boss was charged by the FA with misconduct and potentially bringing the game into disrepute in July and later admitted to the charges.
The EFL expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs in May and handed the club a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season after they admitted "multiple breaches" relating to the unauthorised filming of their opponents' training, including before their semi-final against Middlesbrough.
Southampton beat Middlesbrough and were due to play Hull City in the play-off final before Boro were reinstated. Southampton appealed the decision, but the punishments were upheld by a League Arbitration Panel.
During the Spygate hearing, the EFL only had the power to charge clubs, not individuals. The FA waited for the EFL process to run its course before launching its own investigation.
Eckert 'loved' spying information
In June, Eckert said he took full responsibility "for everything that happened", apologising to players, staff and supporters.
At that time, Southampton chairman Dragan Solak admitted Eckert had made a "mistake" but said the club was "fully behind him", reaffirming their target of winning promotion to the Premier League.
In the written reasons released following the League Arbitration Panel's decision to dismiss Southampton's appeal against their punishment, Saints' conduct was described as a "contrived and determined plan from the top down".
Eckert "loved" the information a junior analyst intern gathered when spying on one of his team's opponents, according to messages used as evidence in the hearing.
The written reasons detail how analysts felt pressure to carry out jobs asked of them as a colleague had lost their job earlier in the season.
The panel added: "A reprimand is considered appropriate because of the way in which junior members of staff were put under pressure to carry out activities which they felt were, at the least, morally wrong."
Spygate timeline: How did we get here?
May 7: Middlesbrough make formal complaint to the EFL alleging a Southampton member of staff spied on their training session three days before their Championship play-off semi-final first leg.
May 9: Boro boss Kim Hellberg accuses Southampton of cheating after the first leg ends in a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium.
May 12: Southampton charged with a breach of EFL regulations in relation to the spying accusations. Southampton request additional time to conduct an internal review.
The play-off semi-final second leg is played at St Mary's. Shea Charles' extra-time winner earns Southampton a 2-1 victory and a place in the Championship play-off final.
Emotional Hellberg hits out at "disgraceful spying", before Saints boss Tonda Eckert storms out of his press conference after being asked: "Are you a cheat?"
May 13: Photos allegedly showing the Southampton analyst near Middlesbrough's training ground released publicly.
May 14: It is announced the independent hearing to determine Southampton's fate will take place on or before Tuesday May 19. In a statement, the EFL say "the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture."
May 15: Middlesbrough publicly call for Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs. In a statement, they said: "In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final."
May 18: Middlesbrough players return to training as the outcome of the independent disciplinary hearing nears.
May 19: EFL announces Southampton expelled from play-off final after hearing.
May 20: Southampton appeal rejected.
May 21: FA confirm they will begin their own investigation into Spygate.
May 23: Middlesbrough lose 1-0 to Hull City in the Championship play-off final.
June 1: WhatsApp messages reveal Eckert "loved" spying information despite the concerns of junior members of Southampton staff.
June 2: Eckert takes full responsibility for Spygate as Southampton owner Dragan Solak backs head coach.
June 17: Eckert tells Sky Sports News he received police protection amid threats during Spygate.
July 22: FA charges Southampton head coach Eckert with three breaches of rule E3.1.
September 25: Eckert is given a suspended six-week ban, running until the end of the 2027/28 season, and a fine.
