Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert says the Spygate saga “changed” his life after being handed a six-week suspended ban and a £28,000 fine; Eckert says he is relieved to have “clarity” and praised the club’s board for standing by him Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert says he welcomes the “clarity” provided by his suspended FA ban, admitting the Spygate saga has “changed my life” after more than four months of uncertainty. On Wednesday, it was announced that Eckert has been handed a six-week ban, suspended until the end of the 2027/28 season, and fined £28,000 after admitting three FA charges relating to misconduct during Southampton’s spying scandal. He will continue in his role and is now focused on Sunday’s Championship clash with local rivals Portsmouth. The German says the conclusion of the FA process has brought relief after more than four months of uncertainty and praised the Southampton board for standing by him.
“It’s tough. It changes your life,” Eckert said. “It’s been more than four months now, it’s been quite a long time, and you go into a season and you push everyone aside because we have a job to do and we need to deliver. “I’m very happy we go into Sunday and one of the biggest games we will have all season and we have clarity – and that’s not just for me, that’s for everyone at this football club.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Southampton were expelled from last season’s Championship play-off final and handed a four-point deduction for this season after admitting multiple breaches relating to the unauthorised filming of opponents’ training.
The EFL process could only sanction the club, with the FA subsequently charging Eckert with three breaches of Rule E3.1. Eckert accepted responsibility for his actions and says he was prepared to accept whatever punishment followed. “I’ve made a mistake and I’ve said that relatively quickly, then I think you have to accept whatever the consequence is,” he said. “The only thing that was up for me was to give my version of the story and I’m happy that the commission listened.
But, in the end, if you make a mistake, it’s not for me to judge the consequence, so I have to take whatever comes my way.” Eckert admits there was a possibility the outcome could have prevented him from continuing as Southampton boss. “There was a fair chance the verdict went a different way,” he said. “After such a long time… we’ve had a verdict from the EFL, we’ve had a verdict now (from the FA) and whatever you expect is not necessarily what you get in the end. “For me, it’s just to hold my hand up one more time, I’ve made a mistake and for me to take whatever the consequence is.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The 39-year-old also praised Saints owner Dragan Solak and the Southampton board for their backing throughout the saga.
“I think there’s many football clubs that take a different decision in the summer and that is what makes this club special,” Eckert said. “That in times that are a lot tougher, especially with a lot of outside pressure, that we’ve come to a decision the way that we’ve done. It will be something to forever be grateful for.” Eckert believes the conclusion of the matter can now allow Southampton to focus fully on their promotion challenge. “When I came in, I made a promise to the players to always give clarity and honesty – and the clarity that they deserve and everyone in the club deserves, I couldn’t give for many months,” he said.
“That is the reality and it’s never easy to perform when you are not clear, when there’s an uncertainty that doesn’t allow you to look too far ahead. “That is gone now, so we make sure we put our foot on the gas on Sunday and don’t stop.” Asked what he would say to those who believe his punishment was not sufficient, Eckert simply replied: “Nothing.” He added: “It’s good that we have clarity and I’m sure this is going to give us another boost going into a block of very important games.” Eckert insists Southampton’s target remains promotion back to the Premier League. “It’s our goal,” he said. “It needs a lot to do that because it’s a strong league and there are so many tough games and a condensed schedule coming up, but if you have those goals in the end, you need to live that in every single moment, even more so on Sunday.” On Thursday afternoon, Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg was asked about the punishment and what he thought.
“I think for me, it ended after the first judgement,” he told BBC Sport Tees. Middlesbrough were the third side Southampton admitted to spying on during last season, following earlier incidents involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town. Boro complained to the EFL after a Southampton analyst was spotted filming training from behind a tree close to their training ground in the days before the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final. “I’m not one to keep a grudge after that,” Hellberg added.
“They had their punishment in terms of that and we moved on. “I talked to Tonda [Eckert] since that day. He called me, talked to me and apologised for those things. “After the game, I talked about my point of view on it.
I never said anything about a decision or a ban – I just talked about emotions and how I felt about it from my point of view. “I think everyone is entitled to a second chance and I try to live by that in life every day.” Middlesbrough were reinstated to the Championship play-offs following Southampton’s expulsion but were beaten 1-0 in the final at Wembley by Hull City. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.
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