The Spygate scandal explained

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert orchestrated spying on three clubs before the Championship play-offs. The club was expelled from the play-off final, costing them £200m in lost Premier League promotion.

Eckert charged with misconduct

The German manager was charged by the FA in July after an EFL panel found he orchestrated a "contrived and determined plan" to spy on Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough.

“contrived and determined plan”

Four-point deduction already imposed

The EFL docked Southampton four points this season. Without the deduction, they would be fourth in the table instead of 13th, despite an encouraging start.

FA hearing this week

More than four months after the scandal erupted, a decisive Football Association hearing is set to take place to determine Eckert's fate.

Eckert reflects on the ordeal

The 33-year-old says the summer has been difficult and that nothing prepares you for being at the centre of one of English football's biggest controversies.

“There just isn't.”

Eckert apologised publicly

The manager apologised in June after the EFL commission found he had orchestrated the spying. He insisted he was unaware it breached EFL rules and had no impact on performances.

Eckert met with FA for four hours

The manager says he sat down with the FA for almost four hours to discuss everything that happened. He believes they listened to him during the investigation.

“almost four hours”

Eckert calls punishment historic

The manager describes the penalties as "absolutely unheard of in the history of sports" and says it's been very hard on the club entering a new season on minus four points.

“absolutely unheard of in the history of sports”

Parsons: we've taken enough

Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons says the club has suffered one of the largest sanctions in sporting history. He hopes the FA recognises what they've already endured.

“We've taken enough”

Legal fees and business impact

Southampton spent huge amounts on legal fees. Local businesses also lost money from the club missing out on Premier League revenue, extending the damage beyond the club itself.

Bielsa precedent differs

The FA did not charge Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa after spying on Derby in 2019, issuing only a formal warning. The EFL then introduced new rules prohibiting clubs from observing rivals' training within 72 hours of a match.

Canada Olympics case precedent

The most recent precedent came at the 2024 Olympics women's tournament, when FIFA banned Canada's head coach Bev Priestman for a year after New Zealand were spied on.

Club backs Eckert despite mistake

Southampton's ownership wants to back Eckert, who picked up the team from around 20th place and got them to the play-offs. Parsons says many people would have cracked under the pressure.

“a lot of people could have cracked”

Will Salt given permanent role

The intern caught spying on Middlesbrough from behind a tree has been handed a permanent role as an analyst in Southampton's academy. Parsons says he's a talented boy who's been through a tough time.

“He's been through a tough time”

EFL rules were "very grey"

Parsons argues the EFL's regulations could be clearer, saying they're "very grey". The club has studied the rules but insists it did something wrong and will move on.

“They're very grey”

Rivals continue to mock

Last week, Wrexham's owners aimed a dig at Southampton in a social media advert before the two teams met. Rival fans regularly remind the club of the scandal during matches.

Decision comes before Portsmouth

By the time Southampton play local rivals Portsmouth on 11 October, Eckert should have learned his fate. For now, his future remains uncertain.