Tonda Eckert reveals shocking impact of Southampton spygate scandal on his life | OneFootball

Tonda Eckert has opened up on the threats he has received since Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs

Southampton will be aiming to earn promotion back to the Premier League next season under Tonda Eckert.

The German oversaw the Saints’ rise to a play-off position in the previous campaign, but was also the central figure in their expulsion from the competition.

The 33-year-old has been charged by the Football Association for his role in the spying scandal that ended the club’s hopes of promotion.

The Hampshire outfit had earned a place in the play-off final after a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough in the semi-finals, but were found guilty of breaching the EFL’s rules against spying on opposition teams’ training sessions.

Southampton admitted to three instances of breaching the rules, which also led to them receiving a four points deduction penalty for 2026/27.

But the Championship side will still be confident of being able to compete for promotion next season, particularly with the play-offs now expanding to include two more teams.

Tonda Eckert reveals shocking impact of Southampton spying scandal

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Eckert has revealed that he has been struggling with his personal safety in the aftermath of the spying scandal that ended Southampton’s promotion hopes last season.

The 33-year-old has opened up on how difficult it has been, admitting that he was advised to not drive himself anyway.

When asked if he received any death threats as a result of spygate, he responded, via Kicker: “Yes, it could no longer be handled without the police.

“I do not want to go into details, only this much: I was advised not to drive myself any more, but to sit in the back of the car instead.

“That was very difficult.

"It was a situation no coaching course prepares you for.

“No training explains how to react when, for security reasons, you are suddenly supposed to sit in the back seat.

“As I said, it was very difficult."

Eckert remains in charge of the Southampton first team squad for the time being, although it remains to be seen what punishment he will be handed by the FA after being charged by the association last month.

The threat of a ban from football looms over the German coach as he prepares his team for the year ahead.

Southampton’s summer business

Southampton have completed the permanent signings of Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz following their initial loan spells at St. Mary’s last season.

The Saints have also completed deals for Lewis Dobbin and George Long, with the former arriving from Aston Villa and the latter as a free agent after his exit from Norwich City.

The Hampshire outfit have until 1 September to complete any remaining business before the market shuts for the remainder of the calendar year.

Eckert’s side will return to league action with their clash against Watford on 16 August in the opening weekend of the new campaign.

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Tonda Eckert doesn’t deserve to feel unsafe

Eckert’s role in the spying scandal had a significant impact on Southampton being unable to earn promotion last season.

But that is no excuse for him to receive death threats or to feel unsafe, and he has done well to speak out on this issue.

It is unjustifiable for anyone to have put the 33-year-old in this position, and he will now be hoping that the start of the new season will see this entire saga put to bed.

While he is still facing the threat of a ban from football, that pales in comparison to how the death threats he received would’ve made him feel during the summer.