Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has avoided an immediate ban for his role in the club’s “spygate” scandal, although the Football Association has imposed a suspended six-week suspension, a £28,000 fine and a reprimand.
The sanction means the 33-year-old German can remain in charge of the Championship club, including for Sunday’s match against Portsmouth.
Eckert admitted the misconduct charge and accepted full responsibility after an independent EFL disciplinary commission found in May that he had “specifically authorised” the spying operation.
Southampton admitted three breaches of EFL regulations after being caught observing training sessions involving semi-final opponents Middlesbrough and two other teams. The club was removed from last season’s Championship play-off final and deducted four points in the current campaign.
The FA said the six-week suspension would remain suspended until the end of the 2027-28 season. It will take effect if Eckert is found to have breached regulations by requesting, authorising, taking or using information obtained from observing another club’s training, “in whatever guise that observation may take”.
Eckert attended an FA hearing at the start of the current international break. The outcome had cast doubt on his future at Southampton, but he is now free to continue in the role.
Southampton said the decision brought a “regrettable period of our history to a conclusion” and added that measures had been introduced to prevent similar errors of judgement at the club.
Owner Dragan Solak said: “I’m pleased that the independent panel has come to a decision and that we have an outcome.
“We have already suffered enough, and we appreciate the panel’s recognition of that.
“We are confident the manager has learned from this matter, and a suspended sentence allows him to continue in his role.”
Southampton currently sit 13th in the Championship. Eckert was appointed permanent manager in December 2025 after guiding the club to fourth place following a poor start to the season.
