Insiders hint at Tonda Eckert ban twist as Southampton Spygate saga takes new turn | OneFootball

The Saints boss could receive a six-month ban for his involvement in Spygate

The spygate scandal, which saw Southampton illegally observe Middlesbrough's training session ahead of their play-off semi-final clash last season, has developed further, as Tonda Eckert has been charged by the FA for misconduct.

The Saints went on a 19-game unbeaten run under the German boss to end the Championship campaign last season, which saw them climb from mid-table into the play-offs. That would then increase to 21 games with their win over two legs against Boro.

However, such an impressive run without defeat was marred when Southampton's intern first-team analyst William Salt was caught filming Kim Hellberg's side ahead of their postseason meeting.

The Saints were expelled from the play-off final by the EFL and handed a four-point deduction to begin the 2026/27 campaign, after they admitted to spying ahead of regular season games against Oxford United and Ipswich Town. Ironically, Southampton won none of the games they admitted to spying on before.

Tonda Eckert could face further punishment for role in Spygate

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Expelling Southampton from the play-off final and docking points to start the upcoming campaign was as much as the EFL could do, with the Guardian reporting that they are unable to sanction bans on individuals.

Therefore, the case has been handed to the FA, who charged Eckert with misconduct on Wednesday. The 33-year-old has until next Tuesday to respond to those charges.

In the meantime, speculation is surrounding what punishment may come the Southampton manager's way if he accepts those charges, and the Guardian adds that there are fears that a precedent set by FIFA in 2024 could lead to a ban.

In that case, the Canadian women's national team coach, Bev Priestman, was banned from worldwide football activities for a year after she was found guilty of using a drone to monitor New Zealand's training ahead of their meeting in the Paris Olympics.

Saints owner Dragan Solak has continued to support Eckert throughout the summer, and reinforced that in the club statement responding to the charges, but the Guardian report states that some sources are suggesting that the German boss could be banned for six months in the wake of the misconduct.

The FA have no power to impose that ban worldwide, so Eckert could be free to go and work abroad, but they can ask FIFA to apply an international suspension, forbidding him to work in football until that ban ends.

Southampton fans react to possible Tonda Eckert ban

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The majority of Southampton fans just want the whole saga to be over so they can focus on matters this season and try to get back into the Premier League the right way.

Online, Saints fans have reacted negatively to the news that their manager could face a lengthy ban from football, feeling that the punishments imposed by the EFL were more than enough.

In response to the Guardian's article being shared on X, one Saints fan said, "They just wanna see Saints suffer even more. They don't want us coming back to the Premier, so they will do what they can. I mean, removing us from a playoff final, isn't that enough??"

Another added, "How much more are they going to hit Saints... play off final 4 points deduction. A fine should be enough," while a third fan wrote, "The club need to do a Man City and challenge any type of ban. This is beginning to feel like a vendetta," referencing the still yet-resolved 115 alleged breaches of financial rulings from Manchester City from 2009 to 2018.

"Putting aside the fact that a six-month ban would be ridiculous, awaiting punishment as we get closer to the start of the season is poor from the FA," was also amongst the replies, outlining that Southampton's chances of mounting a successful promotion push next season are clearly at a disadvantage due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of their manager.

Ultimately, all the noise surrounding spygate being as loud as it was two months ago is definitely not what Southampton want with the new campaign kicking off in just over two weeks.

The Saints travel to League Two outfit Colchester United on August 8 in the EFL Cup first round, before heading to Watford a week later to open their league season. Southampton will be hoping for some clarity surrounding their manager's situation long before then.