Southampton manager Tonda Eckert remains in limbo as the Football Association's investigation into last season's spygate scandal continues. The 33-year-old German, who has been orchestrating pre-season training, was interviewed at length by the FA at the start of July.
Spygate sanctions loom
In May, the English Football League expelled Southampton from the Championship playoff final against Hull after a club intern spied on a Middlesbrough training session before the semi-final first leg. Southampton and Eckert admitted to the EFL disciplinary commission that the manager had authorized similar operations against Oxford and Ipswich earlier in the season.
William Salt, the 23-year-old intern deployed to spy on Middlesbrough, has reportedly been offered a permanent academy analyst role. However, both he and Eckert could face severe sanctions, potentially including 12-month suspensions from all football activity if a Fifa precedent is followed. That was the punishment given to Canada women's coach Bev Priestman in 2024 for using a drone to spy on New Zealand at the Paris Olympics; two of her staff also received one-year bans.
Club stance and upcoming match
Southampton initially considered sacking Eckert in late May but have since backed him. Owner Dragan Solak stated Eckert made a mistake, apologized, and deserves a second chance. The team starts the Championship season with a four-point deduction imposed by the EFL. On Saturday, Eckert's side plays a pre-season friendly at Eastleigh, where he is expected to face reporters for the first time this summer.
The EFL disciplinary commission's written reasons condemned Southampton for a "contrived and determined plan from the top down" to obtain illicit information. They also criticized the pressure placed on Salt, describing it as "particularly deplorable." The commission cited the "Canada case" as a precedent in their decision-making. Southampton have not responded to requests for comment.
