The ‘Spygate’ saga was the hot topic in football towards the end of last season.
Southampton’s expulsion from the Championship play-offs, having admitted to spying on training sessions involving three of their divisional rivals, rocked the EFL’s blue riband end-of-season tournament. It meant Middlesbrough, beaten over two legs by Southampton in the semi-finals, were reinstated and played out a Wembley final against Hull City – one the Tigers ultimately won.
Now, more than four months on, a verdict has been reached regarding Southampton boss Tonda Eckert. The German was charged by the FA back in July of misconduct and he’s now been handed a six-week ban from all football – suspended until the end of next season.
Eckert, 33, was also hit with a £28,000 fine and given a reprimand by an FA independent regulatory commission.
Eckert had previously apologised and claimed that he was unaware the practice was forbidden. The fallout from the saga dominated headlines over the summer with Saints also handed a four-point deduction for this season.
Speaking to the BBC in September, Eckert said of his actions: “It’s been a big, big punishment. Absolutely unheard of in the history of sports. I’ve asked for forgiveness for what I’ve done. I’ve apologised publicly.”
Eckert and Southampton will now hope to put the matter to bed as they look to move on and continue with a belated bid for promotion.
But a quick check of the schedule sees an impending visit next month from Boro – slated for live TV coverage on Friday, November 27. That red-hot fixture will undoubtedly see it all raked up once more.
