Tonda Eckert: Southampton boss charged by FA over Spygate scandal that expelled club from Championship play-offs

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged by the FA with misconduct and potentially bringing the game into disrepute over the 'Spygate' scandal. <p>The EFL <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13545415/southampton-expelled-from-championship-play-offs-over-spygate-with-middlesbrough-reinstated">expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs in May</a> and handed the club a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season after they admitted "multiple breaches" relating to the unauthorised filming of their opponents' training, including before their semi-final against Middlesbrough.</p><p>Southampton beat Middlesbrough and were due to play Hull City in the play-off final before Boro were reinstated. Southampton appealed the decision, but the punishments were <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13544383/southamptons-appeal-against-championship-play-off-final-explusion-dismissed-after-spygate-scandal">upheld by a League Arbitration Panel.</a></p><p>During the Spygate hearing, the EFL only had the power to charge clubs, not individuals. The FA waited for the EFL process to run its course before <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13546521/southampton-the-fa-to-launch-investigation-into-south-coast-club-amid-spygate-scandal">launching its own investigation.</a></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/southampton-scores-fixtures"><strong>Southampton fixtures</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/efl-article-referral" target="_blank"><strong>Got Sky? Watch the Championship on the Sky Sports app</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink"><strong>Not got Sky?