Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has been handed a suspended one-match touchline ban and a fine following an FA investigation into a spying incident. The Football Association confirmed the sanction this week after Eckert admitted a charge of improper conduct for observing an opponent's training session ahead of a match last season.
FA investigation concluded
The governing body stated that Eckert's actions, which occurred before Southampton's Championship fixture against Portsmouth in April, constituted a breach of its rules. He has been fined £2,500 and given a one-match touchline ban, which is suspended until the end of the 2026-27 season. This means the ban will only be activated if he commits a further breach of FA Rule E3. The club itself was not charged in the matter.
Eckert said he accepted the decision.
The news comes as Southampton prepare for their next Championship match against Bolton Wanderers at St Mary's on Saturday. The team currently sits seventh in the table with 16 points from 10 games, having won four of their last five matches. Top scorer Cyle Larin, with seven goals this season, will be available for selection as the Saints look to extend their two-game winning run.
