Southampton spying 'authorised' by manager Tonda Eckert, says panel - 'A contrived and determined plan from the top down'

React to this story

The findings of an independent disciplinary panel have revealed Southampton's spying of Middlesbrough training was "authorised" by manager Tonda Eckert.

No Filter: History made as Villa win Europa League to end 30-year trophy drought

Video credit: TNT Sports

Saints were expelled from the EFL Championship play-offs after admitting to "multiple breaches" of filming other clubs' training.

They saw their appeal dismissed, which means that Middlesborough will now face Hull City in the final on Saturday at Wembley for a place in next season's Premier League.

Southampton have also been deducted four points ahead of next season.

Championship

Eckert charged with misconduct for Southampton spygate scandal

22/07/2026 at 12:41

The findings, published by the EFL, also state the episode was a "contrived and determined plan from the top down."

The report also said that Southampton's activities "involved far more than innocent activity," as well as criticising a "particularly deplorable approach in its use of junior members of staff to conduct the clandestine observation at the direction of senior personnel."

Southampton admitted to three separate instances of spying on opposition training sessions: against Oxford United in December, Ipswich Town in April and Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final first leg.

'Nightmare' for managers, 'incredible' for players - England stars recall World Cup call-ups

Video credit: TNT Sports

In the first two instances, Southampton failed to pick up a victory. But the EFL said that "sporting advantage is different from sporting success."

"The results of the matches which follow the incidents is not, in our view, a guide as to whether there was any sporting advantage," it said.

The EFL's report said that Eckert had "accepted" that he had "specifically authorised the observations to obtain information about formation [about Oxford] and about the availability of a key player [for Middlesborough]."

They said Southampton's actions "seriously violated" the "integrity of the play-off competition," and that the club's actions "constituted a deliberate attempt to obtain an unfair advantage."

The EFL said a points deduction or other sanction would have been applied if this incident had happened during the regular season to "strip any sporting advantage." But in the play-offs, "such a position is not possible."

"Points deductions for the regular season might still be a risk worth taking if enhanced the possibility of promotion," it wrote.

"A financial penalty as proposed by [Southampton] would not be effective at this stage in the competition since the financial rewards on offer for a team which is promoted to the Premier League through the play-offs would render any penalty meaningless."

The investigation from the EFL found that the intern who conducted the spying at Oxford and Middlesbrough declined to do so at Ipswich and he described "the pressure he was under".

The EFL said a reprimand had been placed on Southampton "because of the way in which junior members of staff were put under pressure to carry out activities which they felt, at the least, morally wrong."

"Such staff were in a vulnerable position without job security and with limited access to object to or resist the instructions given to them," it said.

Southampton could face further punishment after the Football Association announced on Thursday it will open an investigation into the matter.

An FA spokesperson said the governing body "won't comment further until we have assessed the evidence."

While the EFL can only sanction clubs, the FA will assess the culpability of the individuals involved in the spying, which could mean a potential ban for Eckert.

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cups, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Transfers