Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association (FA) for his involvement in the Spygate scandal. The controversy led to the club's expulsion from the Championship play-offs in May after they admitted to spying on three clubs during the season.

An independent disciplinary commission determined that the espionage was sanctioned by Eckert and characterized it as a "contrived and determined plan from the top down." The FA's investigation has focused on identifying all parties involved in the spying and evaluating the accountability of those aware of the actions.

The FA announced that Eckert faces charges for three breaches of FA rule E3.1 related to misconduct occurring between December 2025 and May 2026. Key details include:

• Southampton defeated Middlesbrough in the play-off semi-final but were expelled, resulting in Boro's reinstatement to the final where they lost to Hull City.
• The English Football League (EFL) expelled Southampton after they acknowledged watching training sessions of Oxford United and Ipswich Town, as well as filming Middlesbrough prior to the semi-final.
• The FA's allegations state that Eckert acted improperly and brought the game into disrepute by directing the observation of training sessions.

Eckert has until next Tuesday to respond to the charges. In a statement, Southampton expressed acknowledgment of the FA's charges and emphasized their commitment to cooperating fully with the investigation. The club remains supportive of Eckert as they aim for a return to the Premier League.

Despite the controversy, Southampton owner Dragan Solak previously stated he would not dismiss Eckert, suggesting the club had already faced sufficient punishment. Eckert himself admitted to the poor judgment and expressed a desire to move forward positively.

As a further consequence, Southampton will begin the new Championship season with a four-point deduction, starting with their opening match against Watford on 16 August.