Tonda Eckert: Southampton boss charged by FA over spygate scandal that dumped club out of Championship play-offs | football news

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged by the FA with misconduct and the ‘Spygate’ scandal that has potentially brought the game into disrepute.

EFL Knocked Southampton out of the Championship play-offs in May And handed the club a four-point concession for the 2026/27 season after admitting “multiple breaches” relating to unauthorized 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 relegating Boro. Southampton appealed the decision but the punishment stood Upheld by a league arbitration panel.

At the time of the Spygate hearings, the EFL only had the power to charge clubs, not individuals. The FA previously waited for the EFL to run the process started its own investigation.

The FA charged Eckert with three breaches of rule E3.1, between December 2025 and May 2026, by “conducting and/or observing” training sessions for 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 shall not engage in any act which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or abuse, or a combination of violent behaviour, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or abusive words or behaviour”.

Southampton say they are “fully supportive” of Eckert and will “continue to co-operate fully and openly with The FA”.

More to follow.