SerpApi.Org
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has been charged by the FA for his role in the ‘Spygate’ scandal in the build-up to the Championship play-off semi-final.
In a huge controversy towards the end of last season, Southampton admitted to spying on a training session held by Middlesbrough in the build-up to the Championship play-off semi-final, which the Saints won.
They also admitted to spying on training sessions at fellow Championship clubs Ipswich and Oxford earlier in the season, and after beating Middlesbrough in the semi-finals, Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-off final against Hull and deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.
Middlesbrough took the Saints’ spot in the final but were ultimately beaten by Hull, who secured promotion to the Premier League for the 2026/2027 season.
An independent disciplinary commission appointed by the Football League ruled that Eckert knew about the spying and even authorised it, with the commission saying it was a ‘contrived and determined plan from the top down’.
The English Football Association (FA) subsequently confirmed that it was investigating the scandal and has now charged Eckert for his role in the spying.
‘Tonda Eckert has been charged with three breaches of FA rule E3.1 in relation to misconduct between December 2025 and May 2026,’ the FA said in a statement.
‘It’s alleged that the head coach acted in an improper manner and/or brought the game into disrepute by directing and/or authorising the observation of training sessions of Oxford United FC, Ipswich Town FC and Middlesbrough FC ahead of fixtures between these clubs and Southampton FC in December 2025, April 2026 and May 2026 respectively.’
Eckert has until next Tuesday to respond to the charges, with Southampton kicking off their season with a League Cup first round tie at Colchester on August 8th before their opening Championship fixture at Watford on August 16th, which they will go into on minus four points.
