Tonda Eckert’s Southampton future unclear as FA investigation into spygate continues

• FA could follow Fifa precedent with 12-month suspension

• Manager to face media on Saturday in pre-season friendly

The future of Southampton’s manager, Tonda Eckert, remains shrouded in uncertainty as he waits to learn the outcome of a lengthy and detailed Football Association investigation into last season’s spygate scandal.

In May the English Football League https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/southampton-kicked-out-of-championship-playoff-final-docked-four-points-for-spying">expelled Southampton from the Championship playoff final against Hull after finding that a club intern engaged as a first-team analyst had spied on a key Middlesbrough training session before the semi-final first leg at the Riverside.