Southampton boss Eckert charged by FA over Spygate

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for his role in the Spygate scandal.

Saints were kicked out of the Championship play-offs in May after admitting they spied on three clubs during the campaign.

An independent disciplinary commission ruled at the time that the espionage was authorised by Eckert and was a "contrived and determined plan from the top down".

Since then the club has been the subject of an investigation by the FA, looking into who participated in the spying and assessing the culpability of those who knew it was happening.

The FA said, external Eckert "has been charged with three breaches of FA rule E3.1 in relation to misconduct between December 2025 and May 2026".

Southampton beat Middlesbrough over two legs in the play-off semi-final but, after Saints' expulsion, Boro were reinstated to the final and went on to lose to Hull City.

The English Football League (EFL) expelled Southampton from the play-offs after they admitted watching training sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough before the semi-final.

The EFL can only take action against its member clubs but the FA can punish individuals and hand out bans.

The FA said it is "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 these games.

Eckert has until next Tuesday to respond.

In a statement, Southampton said, external they and Eckert "acknowledge today's charges from the FA relating to a breach of rule E3.1".

The club added: "Tonda and the club will continue to co-operate fully and openly with the FA.

"Our focus remains on preparations for the 2026-27 Championship season. The club remains fully supportive of Tonda and his staff as we work towards our ambition of returning to the Premier League.

"We are unable to comment further while the process remains ongoing, but we will provide an update to supporters as soon as we are in a position to do so."

In June, Southampton owner Dragan Solak told BBC Sport he would not sack Eckert, despite the "mistake" of the head coach, and argued the club had already been punished enough.

Eckert recently told BBC Radio Solent: "It's tough to read some of the things that are out there, I've held my hand up for this judgement on something I have authorised.

"I am responsible and I apologise for bad judgement; we've be in now for a week and there comes a point to look forward and from the first day back in, there's been lots of smiles and a good energy in the place again."

Alongside last season's punishment, Southampton will start the new Championship campaign with a four-point deduction. The club's opening fixture is away at Watford on August 16.

From no-one to someone: the academy coach who took his chance
When Will Still was sacked by Southampton on 2 November, Saints were in 21st place - three points outside the Championship relegation zone with one win in 13 games.

That is when the club turned to Eckert, who had only arrived at St Mary's in July 2025 when he replaced a Chelsea-bound Calum McFarlane and took charge of the club's under-21 team.

He appeared perfect for that academy job.

Eckert's career had largely involved youth football, in his homeland with Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. He had also helped the under-18s at Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg win the Uefa Youth League.

Four months after moving to Saints, he would replace Still and manage a club in one of the biggest leagues in Europe.

Eckert's only prior work in senior football came through 15 months as the number two at Barnsley, and three years as assistant boss at Italian club Genoa.

But he was well known to Johannes Spors, Southampton's sporting director, as they were at Genoa together.

So Eckert, at the age of 32 and with no previous managerial experience, stepped into Still's shoes on an interim basis which became permanent a month later.

Eckert won a hat-trick of Championship manager of the month awards - for February, March and April - as Saints not only stormed into play-offs but finished within four points of the automatic places.

Southampton (68) won more points after Eckert took charge than any other club - including champions Coventry City (67).

But just 48 hours before they played Middlesbrough in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, Southampton's world came crashing down.

William Salt - an intern analyst - was discovered observing a Middlesbrough training session, and the saga known as Spygate began.

- BBC