The Football Association is contemplating misconduct charges against Southampton manager Tonda Eckert following a spying scandal that led to the club's expulsion from the Championship play-off final. This decision comes after an independent tribunal found Southampton guilty of spying on their semi-final opponents, Middlesbrough.

The scandal erupted when a Southampton intern analyst was caught filming Middlesbrough's training session on May 7, just two days before their crucial match. As a result of the ruling, Middlesbrough, who had lost 2-1 to Southampton in the semi-finals, has been reinstated and is set to compete against Hull City on Saturday.

Southampton has appealed the tribunal's verdict, with a decision expected by Wednesday, which is only three days prior to the Wembley showpiece. The club admitted to the charges and also faced additional penalties, including:

• A four-point deduction for the start of next season in England's second tier.
• Being found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season.

Eckert could face serious consequences if found guilty of misconduct, including a lengthy ban from football. Despite numerous inquiries from the press, Eckert has remained silent regarding his involvement. The EFL has yet to confirm whether he played a direct role in the scandal. The FA’s Rule E3 mandates that participants must always act in the best interests of the game, prohibiting actions that could bring it into disrepute.