Southampton have already rehearsed one Tonda Eckert ban scenario as FA verdict looms | OneFootball

Southampton have plans in place for Tonda Eckert's potential punishment from the FA for the spying scandal

Southampton are still awaiting the result of the Football Association investigation into Tonda Eckert.

The German coach has been charged by the FA for his role in the club’s spying scandal at the end of the previous campaign.

The 33-year-old is at risk of being handed a suspension from football, but there are a number of other options on the table in terms of punishment.

Eckert has earned a lot of praise for his work since taking over the first team squad last November, but it remains to be seen what consequences he could face for the Saints being found guilty of breaching the EFL’s rules against spying on opposition teams.

Tonda Eckert practices touchline ban

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One of the possibilities that Southampton have trained for regarding Eckert’s future is for him to watch the games from the stands.

If the coach is handed a touchline ban, then he could still be able to sit in the stadium during the Saints’ matches.

During a pre-season clash against Preussen Munster, the 33-year-old sat in the stands instead of his technical area.

Sporting director Johannes Spor later clarified that the club are considering all of their options as they await an outcome of the FA’s investigation.

"Let's hope we don't need it," said Spor, via the BBC.

"At the moment I'm honestly very positive looking into the next weeks and we have some ideas in mind.

"There was some discussions earlier about how Tonda watched one of the pre-season games from above [in the stands] and we have to think into different scenarios like this."

Tonda Ecket could manage from the stands

Being banned from the touchline would be a setback for Eckert, but it’s a manageable punishment that could mean he keeps his job.

The Southampton boss will be able to communicate with his bench from the stands, providing tactical instruction and substitution plans that can be carried out by his coaching staff.

It would be far from ideal, but it would be preferable to having to find a new first team head coach, which may need to come to pass if he is suspended from football for a lengthy period of time.

Southampton are stuck in a difficult position for the time being while they wait on a final verdict, but they are at least taking steps to plan ahead.

Tonda Eckert suspension would be a big blow for Southampton

There remains the possibility that Eckert is suspended from football altogether, with Bev Priestman receiving this punishment for a similar situation at the 2024 summer Olympics.

She was suspended from football for one year, and that would mean Eckert could not be in the stands for the Saints’ games, if he received the same.

With the season now underway, it would be a real pain to have to seek a temporary solution to this problem, as the Championship side may still want to stick with their man in the long run.

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Middlesbrough will have no sympathy for Tonda Eckert situation

It was ahead of the play-off semi-final clash with Middlesbrough that these spying revelations first emerged, and it ultimately led to Boro taking their place in the final.

So, while Kim Hellberg and his squad may have moved on from the incident with the new season now underway, there will still be no sympathy for the situation Eckert and the Saints find themselves in.

The two sides will meet each other in November, and it is unclear whether the German will even be in charge for that fixture at this point.

But there will certainly be a charged atmosphere for both of their league meetings this season, regardless of whether Eckert is in the touchline, the stands or stuck at home.