Southampton boss punished for spying on Town and others last season

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has been punished for his involvement in spying on Ipswich Town and other Championship teams last season. The Football Association handed Eckert a suspended six-week ban and a £28,000 fine for his role in the 'Spygate' scandal. Despite the sanctions, he remains permitted to manage from the dugout, starting with Southampton's upcoming South Coast derby against Portsmouth.

The penalties follow an earlier EFL ruling that expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted to sending an intern to spy on Middlesbrough. Subsequent findings revealed that Oxford United and Ipswich Town were also targeted, with staff sent to film Ipswich's session at Eastleigh's Silverlake Stadium.