# Southampton Manager Keeps Job After FA Ban

> Southampton manager Tonda Eckert avoids dismissal after six-week suspended ban and £28,000 fine for Spygate misconduct.
- Title: Southampton Manager Keeps Job After FA Ban · Sky Sports
- Summary: Southampton manager Tonda Eckert avoids dismissal after six-week suspended ban and £28,000 fine for Spygate misconduct. Southampton manager Tonda Eckert…
- Keywords: southampton, tonda eckert, spygate, championship, suspended ban, fine, epl, play-off final, sports, Manager, Keeps, Job
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/football/news/12040/13567723/spygate-southampton-boss-tonda-eckert-keeps-job-after-receiving-six-week-suspended-ban-and-28000-fine
- Published: 2026-10-07T16:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: southampton, tonda eckert, spygate, championship, fa, suspended ban, fine, epl, play-off final, sports
## Southampton Manager Keeps Job
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert will continue in his role after being handed a six-week ban suspended until the end of next season over the 'Spygate' scandal.
## Spygate Scandal Details
Saints were kicked out of the Championship play-off final and docked four points this term after admitting three breaches of EFL regulations for snooping on opponents.
## FA Charges Manager
Eckert accepted full responsibility and was charged by the FA with three breaches of Rule E3.1 in relation to misconduct affecting Southampton and their manager.
## Punishment Details
The FA imposed a six-week suspension from all football activity, suspended until the end of the 2.027/28 season, a £28,000 fine, and a reprimand following a hearing.
## Club Statement
Southampton say this brings a conclusion to a regrettable period in their history and measures have been put in place to prevent future errors.
## Owner Criticizes EFL
Southampton owner Dragan Solak criticized the EFL's handling of the case, saying the FA process was positive but the EFL treatment was not something they would forget.
## Spygate Timeline
Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after admitting multiple breaches of EFL regulations for unauthorized filming of opponents' training.
## Eckert's Admission
Eckert admitted he 'loved' the information gathered by a junior analyst intern when spying on opponents, despite concerns from staff.
## FA Hearing Outcome
The FA hearing concluded that Eckert's actions were a 'contrived and determined plan from the top down' with junior staff pressured to carry out morally questionable activities.
## Timeline of Events
Southampton were expelled from the play-off final on May 19 after the EFL hearing, with the FA launching their own investigation on May 21.
## Key takeaway

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert keeps his job after receiving a six-week suspended ban and £28,000 fine for spying on opponents in the Championship play-offs.