Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has been allowed to continue in his role despite his involvement in the "spygate" scandal, the English Football Association (FA) announced on Wednesday. Eckert was fined 28,000 British pounds ($37,000) and received a reprimand, but crucially, he avoided a lengthy ban.

The "spygate" incident saw Southampton caught snooping on training sessions of their Championship playoff semifinal opponents, Middlesbrough, and two other clubs. The club admitted to three breaches of English Football League (EFL) regulations, which resulted in them being expelled from last season's playoff final and docked four points in the current campaign.

An independent disciplinary commission had previously ruled in May that Eckert, 33, had "specifically authorised" the spying, casting doubt over his future. The German coach accepted full responsibility for his actions and was subsequently charged by the FA with misconduct. He attended a hearing at the start of the current international break.

The FA's decision means Eckert is free to manage Southampton in their upcoming match against rivals Portsmouth on Sunday. The FA stated that Eckert received a six-week suspension from all football-related activity, which is suspended until the end of the 2027-28 season. This suspended sanction will only be enforced if he is found to have breached rules by requesting, authorising, taking, or using information from observing another club's training.

Southampton Football Club released a statement indicating that this outcome brings a "regrettable period of our history to a conclusion." The club, currently sitting 13th in the Championship, assured that measures have been implemented to prevent similar "errors in judgement" in the future.

Club owner Dragan Solak expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating he was pleased the independent panel had reached a conclusion. Solak added that the club had "already suffered enough" and appreciated the panel's acknowledgement of this. He conveyed confidence that Eckert had learned from the incident and that the suspended sentence permits him to continue his managerial duties.

Eckert was appointed permanent Southampton manager in December 2025. Despite a challenging start to the season, he led the club to fourth place in the Championship table.

The FA's decision, while allowing Eckert to continue his work, highlights the significant repercussions for the club itself, including their expulsion from a playoff final and a points deduction. The suspended nature of Eckert's ban leaves a lingering possibility of future sanctions should similar incidents occur.