FA considers charging Southampton manager Tonda Eckert with misconduct over spying scandal | OneFootball

The Football Association is considering charging Southampton manager Tonda Eckert with misconduct over the spying scandal that has seen Saints expelled from the Championship play-off final.

Southampton were kicked out after ​being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday, following a hastily arranged independent tribunal.

Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton in the two-legged semi-final, have been reinstated and will now face Hull City on Saturday.

Southampton have appealed against the verdict and a decision on their appeal is set to be announced on Wednesday, only three days before the Wembley showpiece.

Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December ⁠and Ipswich Town in April during the regular ​season. They ⁠have also been deducted four points for the start of next season in England's second tier.

But there could be further repercussions for Eckert, who could face a lengthy ban from football if found to have brought the game into disrepute.

Tonda Eckert is under severe pressure following the controversy (Reuters)

The incident occurred on the morning of Thursday 7 May. Middlesbrough were at their Rockliffe Park training base preparing for the play-off semi-final second leg against Southampton 48 hours later when a member of staff spotted a Southampton intern analyst filming Boro’s training on a mobile phone while standing behind a tree.

Eckert has remained tight-lipped despite a barrage of questions in press conferences around the play-off semi-final second leg. The EFL has not confirmed whether the German was found to have been involved in the spying scandal, but more details will be revealed when the independent tribunal’s written reasons for the sanctions are published following Southampton’s appeal.

Rule E3 of the FA’s regulations covers incidents of misconduct. “A Participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or which brings the game into disrepute,” it reads.