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Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged by the FA with misconduct and potentially bringing the game into disrepute over the ‘Spygate’ scandal.
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.
The FA has charged Eckert with three breaches of rule E3.1, during the period between December 2025 and May 2026, by “directoring and/or observing” training sessions of Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough.
Rule E3.1 states: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour”.
Southampton say they remain “fully supportive” of Eckert and will “continue to cooperate fully and openly with The FA”.
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.”
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Southampton boss Tonda Eckert ‘loved’ the information gathered by a junior analyst intern when spying on one of his team’s opponents, according to newly released messages.
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.
July 22: FA charges Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert
