• Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has apologised for the Spygate scandal but insists spying is common in his native Germany
• The Football Association has opened an investigation into the 33-year-old coach
• Southampton were removed from last month’s Championship play-offs for breaking EFL rules
• Eckert claims open training sessions in the Bundesliga make spying easier and more accepted
• Experts say cultural differences exist, but Eckert should have known English football’s stricter rules

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has defended his actions in the recent Spygate scandal by claiming that watching opponents train is normal practice in German football. The 33-year-old released a video apology on Tuesday after his club was thrown out of the Championship play-offs.

Eckert told fans that during his four years working in Italy, every team sheet was leaked to the media before matches. He said this happened because rivals always watched training sessions. He also mentioned that Pep Guardiola faced similar issues when coaching Bayern Munich between 2013 and 2016.

“[Guardiola] has spoken about this in his time at Bayern, that it has been common practice in Germany to observe training sessions,” Eckert explained. He admitted he did not know the English Football League (EFL) bans clubs from spying on opponents within 72 hours of a match.

The young coach now faces an investigation by the Football Association. He could receive a ban if found guilty of misconduct.

Football experts agree that spying is easier in Germany. Many Bundesliga clubs hold open training sessions that fans can attend. In theory, rival staff members can also watch these sessions and take notes. Guardiola confirmed this in 2019, saying people with cameras watched his Bayern team train.

There have been several famous spying cases in Germany. Ole Werner, now manager of RB Leipzig, admitted to using drones over rival training grounds when he coached Werder Bremen. In one case, a Bremen video analyst flew a drone over Hoffenheim’s training ground. Police investigated this as a possible aviation offence.

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic also confessed that he dressed as a steward to watch Real Madrid train before a Champions League match in 2013.

However, Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard says German football does not treat spying as a serious crime. “The general feeling is that spying is a side issue and not taken very seriously,” he said. “When somebody is caught spying, the reaction tends to be ‘better luck next time’ rather than real anger.”

Hatchard believes the Bundesliga needs clear rules against spying to stop the practice. He notes that Eckert’s case is different because the EFL has strict rules that the Southampton boss clearly broke.

Eckert said he wanted to give “context of the football world I grew up in” rather than make excuses. However, this is not the first spying scandal linked to his career. In 2015, German newspaper Kicker reported that Cologne sent an analyst to spy on Hamburg during a training camp in Dubai. Eckert worked as a youth coach at Cologne at that time.

During the 2014 World Cup, French manager Didier Deschamps stopped a private training session after spotting a drone overhead. Eckert worked as an analyst for the German national team during that tournament.

Some critics say Eckert should have known English rules better. He spent 18 months as assistant manager at Barnsley in League One. Steve Grant, host of the Total Saints podcast, called the plan “stupid and ill-conceived.”

Hatchard agrees there is a cultural gap between the two countries. But he finds it surprising that such a detailed coach did not check if spying was allowed in England. “Once you’re the main guy it’s pretty unforgivable to not think about the gravity of what he was doing,” he said.

• Southampton boss Tonda Eckert issues public apology following club’s Spygate scandal
• Saints expelled from Championship play-offs after admitting to spying on three opponents
• Owner Dragan Solak backs Eckert to remain in charge despite widespread criticism
• Former players and supporters divided over whether manager should receive second chance
• Football Association investigation could result in touchline ban for 33-year-old German coach

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has begged supporters to forgive him after the club’s spying scandal. The 33-year-old released a video apology on Tuesday through the club’s media channels. He addressed the incident that led to Southampton’s removal from the Championship play-offs.

Eckert accepted full blame for spying on three matches during the 2025-26 campaign. However, he defended his behaviour by claiming such practices are normal in Germany and Italy, where he previously worked. The German joined Saints as Under-21s boss last summer. He also insisted the spying did not affect match results.

Club owner Dragan Solak told BBC Sport he wants Eckert to stay in his post. Yet the Football Association continues to investigate the matter. Officials could ban Eckert from working in English football if they find him guilty of misconduct.

The manager has enjoyed success since replacing Will Still last autumn. No Championship side collected more points than Southampton during his tenure. The team also reached the FA Cup semi-finals. Despite these achievements, the spying affair has severely damaged the club’s reputation.

Former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem, who made 130 appearances for the club, believes the scandal has hurt the community. He revealed that children wearing Southampton kits face bullying at local matches. Other youngsters shout “cheat” at them. Tessem argues the club must rebuild its image quickly.

Steve Grant, who presents the Total Saints podcast, notes that fans hold opposing views. Some supporters wish to retain Eckert because of his coaching abilities. Others believe cheating crosses a moral line and want him sacked. Grant suggests supporters might forget the scandal if the team wins early matches next season.

The EFL investigation discovered troubling details about the spying operation. A young club intern monitored Middlesbrough’s training ground against his wishes. Senior staff members, including Eckert, placed him under heavy pressure to complete the task.

Solak caused controversy by blaming the intern rather than management. He stated the young analyst should have objected more strongly. The owner has since offered the intern a permanent position with the club.

Tessem criticised the club’s handling of the affair. He hopes the leadership has learned harsh lessons from the scandal. If Eckert remains in charge, he will begin the 2026-27 season with a four-point deduction. Supporters must accept the man who cost them their play-off place will still lead the team.

• Southampton owner Dragan Solak refuses to dismiss head coach Tonda Eckert over the spying affair.
• The club lost their play-off spot and received a four-point deduction for observing rivals’ training sessions.
• Eckert claims he did not know that spying broke English Football League rules.
• The Football Association is still investigating and could ban the German manager.
• Some players are considering legal action after losing promotion bonuses worth millions.

Dragan Solak, the Serbian owner of Southampton, has given his full support to head coach Tonda Eckert. He says he will not sack the manager despite the recent scandal involving secret spying on rival clubs.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Solak said the 33-year-old German deserves another opportunity. “He is a manager with great talent,” the businessman stated. “My support is with him completely.”

The controversy began when the club admitted to watching training sessions of Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough. An independent panel found that Eckert had planned the operation from the top. As punishment, the EFL expelled Southampton from the promotion play-offs. They also deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.

Eckert took charge in December when the team faced relegation. He saved them from the drop and guided them to fourth place. This success earned them a play-off spot before the scandal emerged.

The coach told investigators he was “surprised” that EFL rules forbid spying. Solak believes him. “I do not think he knew he was breaking a rule,” he said. “In Italy and Germany, where he worked before, this is normal practice.”

However, the owner has warned Eckert strictly. “You almost broke my heart,” Solak told him. “If you do not know the EFL rule book by heart when I see you in July, you cannot work for me. We cannot make another mistake.”

The scandal has caused anger among players. Some want to leave the club. Others may go to court over lost bonuses. The team had beaten Middlesbrough to reach the play-off final. Their expulsion cost them a chance at Premier League football and around £200 million.

Solak found out about the spying on social media platform X. He sent messages asking “What is this?” He claims senior staff also knew nothing about the plan.

The owner called the punishment “ridiculous” and “too severe”. He compared the spying to players diving to win penalties. “That is cheating with direct influence on the game,” he argued. “What we did was wrong, but the punishment does not fit the crime.”

A junior staff member said Eckert’s orders put them under “extreme pressure”. Solak admitted this culture is unacceptable. He said staff should refuse tasks that make them uncomfortable.

The Football Association is still investigating. They could charge and ban Eckert. Solak said he would support the coach through any appeal. But if the FA bans him, he cannot manage. “I cannot employ someone who is not allowed to work,” he explained. “But if they ban him, he will find a better job in Italy or Germany.”

• Southampton organised a secret spying operation against three Championship clubs
• Young interns felt they could not refuse orders from senior management
• Private messages show the head coach praised this unethical work
• The club now faces a play-off ban and a four-point deduction next season

Football authorities have published private messages that expose a major spying scandal at Southampton. The club sent young employees to watch their rivals train in secret. These juniors told officials they felt they had no choice but to obey orders.

The League Arbitration Panel released the evidence. It shows the club spied on Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough. Southampton already admitted to these actions. Now they must accept harsh penalties. They cannot compete in the Championship play-offs. They will also start next season with four fewer points.

Officials described the scheme as a calculated plan coming from the highest levels. Head coach Eckert gave his approval to these activities. The written reasons reveal how staff coordinated these missions using mobile messages.

In December, a young intern went to observe Oxford United before a match. He later told colleagues he had no option to decline the task. He explained that as an intern, he simply followed instructions.

When he sent back information from the training ground, his boss replied with enthusiasm. The message celebrated his efforts. It mentioned that the manager was very pleased with the results.

The employee felt uneasy about these duties. When managers asked him to spy on Ipswich Town, he expressed doubts. However, a coach insisted he must go. The coach explained that the head coach demanded someone attend the session.

Another worker at the club later admitted he had warned against this behaviour. After the club was discovered, he wrote to a colleague. He stated he had always felt unhappy about the plan. He added that nobody had listened to his concerns.

The situation became more serious during the play-off matches. The same young employee travelled to Middlesbrough to watch their training. He recorded videos from behind a tree. Security staff discovered him and forced him to delete the footage.

After this incident, he tried to hide his identity. He removed his professional photo from the internet. He also changed his clothes at a nearby golf club. While travelling home by train, he read news reports. He learned that Southampton had been caught spying.

Following this, the club attempted to remove his image from their website. He appeared in the background of a photograph celebrating the manager. Staff asked the media team to delete this picture. They hoped to prevent Middlesbrough from identifying him.

Eckert told the panel he never watched the videos. He claimed the information did not affect match preparation. However, the messages suggest he valued this intelligence. The intern also created predicted team sheets based on what he observed.

Despite gathering this information, Southampton lost to Oxford United. They also failed to beat Ipswich Town. The authorities have now punished the club severely for this systematic cheating. The panel called it a deliberate plan that started at the top of the organisation.

• Southampton expelled from Championship play-offs after admitting to spying on opponents
• Club also faces four-point deduction for next season’s league campaign
• Chief executive Phil Parsons accepts wrongdoing but calls sanction ‘manifestly disproportionate’
• Appeal hearing scheduled for Wednesday before independent arbitration panel
• Saints cite Leeds United’s 2019 fine as evidence that current punishment breaks precedent

Southampton Football Club has officially challenged its removal from the Championship play-offs. The English Football League expelled the Saints after the club admitted to breaking rules about watching rival teams.

An independent disciplinary panel made the decision on Tuesday evening. The panel removed Southampton from the play-offs and put Middlesbrough in their place. Now Middlesbrough will face Hull City in Saturday’s final at Wembley.

The Hampshire club also received a four-point penalty for next season. Phil Parsons, the chief executive, has said sorry to fans and other clubs. He admitted the club made serious errors.

However, Parsons strongly disagrees with how severe the punishment is. The club believes the penalty is unfair when compared to other cases in the history of English football.

Southampton will present their case to an independent panel on Wednesday. They argue that losing the chance to play in a match worth over £200 million is too harsh.

The club points to Leeds United’s case from 2019. Leeds paid only a £200,000 fine for similar spying activities. But the rules have changed since then. Regulation 127 now bans observing opponents within 72 hours of a match. This rule did not exist when Leeds were punished.

Parsons stated that the financial impact makes this the biggest penalty ever given to an English club. He mentioned other historical punishments including Luton Town’s 30-point deduction in 2008. He also noted cases involving Derby County, Everton, and Chelsea.

The chief executive accepts that Southampton broke the rules. But he argues that natural justice requires punishments to fit the crime. He believes this sanction is far too severe compared to past decisions.

• FC Lorient want Will Still as their new head coach
• The Anglo-Belgian manager left Southampton in November
• He has previous experience managing in Ligue 1
• Olivier Pantaloni will step down when the season finishes

FC Lorient have started negotiations with Will Still about becoming their new manager. The French club hope to appoint the 33-year-old as the replacement for Olivier Pantaloni, who will leave his post at the end of the current campaign.

Still has been unemployed since November. Southampton dismissed him after he secured only four victories from 16 matches in charge. Now he looks set to return to French football.

The coach knows Ligue 1 very well. He previously managed Stade de Reims and RC Lens. During his time in France, he won 37 of his 93 matches in the league.

Several other clubs wanted to hire Still. Toulouse FC, Paris FC and FC Nantes all showed interest in the young manager. However, it appears that Lorient will secure his services.

The club’s directors are impressed by Still’s record. They believe he is the right choice to lead the team forward after Pantaloni departs.

• Jack Clarke scored a late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw for Ipswich Town against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
• The result ends Southampton’s hopes of automatic promotion and confirms they will compete in the Championship play-offs.
• Ipswich head into the final day holding a one-point advantage in the battle for the second automatic promotion spot.

Jack Clarke struck a dramatic goal in the closing minutes to earn Ipswich Town a vital point on the south coast. His finish forced a 2-2 draw against Southampton in front of 31,180 fans. The result ends the Saints’ hopes of finishing in the top two and sends them into the play-offs.

The second half delivered four goals and plenty of tension. Wes Burns put the visitors ahead first. He scored after Ivan Azon won a header in the box following a mistake in midfield.

Southampton found an equaliser ten minutes later. Ryan Manning took a free-kick from just outside the area. His low shot took a deflection off Marcelino Nunez and flew past Christian Walton into the net.

The home side pushed for a winner. In the 80th minute, Cyle Larin gave them the lead. The Canadian striker received a pass from Manning, stepped past two defenders, and calmly placed his shot beyond the goalkeeper.

Just when Southampton looked set to claim victory, Clarke intervened. The winger fired his 16th league goal of the season into the bottom corner with three minutes left on the clock.

Both teams could have won the match in the dying moments. Clarke struck the post and later forced a fine save from Daniel Peretz. Darnell Furlong also went close with a header for Ipswich.

The draw leaves Ipswich in second place in the table. They sit one point ahead of Millwall and two points clear of Middlesbrough. The final matches take place on Saturday. Millwall host already-relegated Oxford United. Middlesbrough travel to Wrexham, who need a result to secure a play-off place themselves.

Southampton will now prepare for the play-offs. They face Preston North End in their final league fixture this weekend.

The Southampton boss told Sky Sports:

“We started the second half with good energy. We conceded a poor goal, but the team showed great spirit to come back. We tried everything to win. Now we must focus on the play-offs.”

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna also spoke to Sky Sports:

“This was one of the best matches I have seen in the Championship. The quality from both sides was top level. We showed tremendous character to get a result here. We now look forward to Saturday.”

Pundit Kevin Phillips added:

“This was a fair result between two excellent teams. Taking the promotion race to the final day is brilliant for neutrals. Saturday will be a thrilling conclusion to the season.”

• Jack Clarke scored a late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw for Ipswich Town against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
• The result ends Southampton’s hopes of automatic promotion and confirms they will compete in the Championship play-offs.
• Ipswich head into the final day holding a one-point advantage in the battle for the second automatic promotion spot.

Jack Clarke struck a dramatic goal in the closing minutes to earn Ipswich Town a vital point on the south coast. His finish forced a 2-2 draw against Southampton in front of 31,180 fans. The result ends the Saints’ hopes of finishing in the top two and sends them into the play-offs.

The second half delivered four goals and plenty of tension. Wes Burns put the visitors ahead first. He scored after Ivan Azon won a header in the box following a mistake in midfield.

Southampton found an equaliser ten minutes later. Ryan Manning took a free-kick from just outside the area. His low shot took a deflection off Marcelino Nunez and flew past Christian Walton into the net.

The home side pushed for a winner. In the 80th minute, Cyle Larin gave them the lead. The Canadian striker received a pass from Manning, stepped past two defenders, and calmly placed his shot beyond the goalkeeper.

Just when Southampton looked set to claim victory, Clarke intervened. The winger fired his 16th league goal of the season into the bottom corner with three minutes left on the clock.

Both teams could have won the match in the dying moments. Clarke struck the post and later forced a fine save from Daniel Peretz. Darnell Furlong also went close with a header for Ipswich.

The draw leaves Ipswich in second place in the table. They sit one point ahead of Millwall and two points clear of Middlesbrough. The final matches take place on Saturday. Millwall host already-relegated Oxford United. Middlesbrough travel to Wrexham, who need a result to secure a play-off place themselves.

Southampton will now prepare for the play-offs. They face Preston North End in their final league fixture this weekend.

The Southampton boss told Sky Sports:

“We started the second half with good energy. We conceded a poor goal, but the team showed great spirit to come back. We tried everything to win. Now we must focus on the play-offs.”

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna also spoke to Sky Sports:

“This was one of the best matches I have seen in the Championship. The quality from both sides was top level. We showed tremendous character to get a result here. We now look forward to Saturday.”

Pundit Kevin Phillips added:

“This was a fair result between two excellent teams. Taking the promotion race to the final day is brilliant for neutrals. Saturday will be a thrilling conclusion to the season.”

• Southampton can move to within one point of Ipswich with a victory at St Mary’s
• Ipswich Town require three points to confirm Premier League promotion before the final day
• Both managers promise attacking football despite the high stakes of this crunch clash

Southampton will face Ipswich Town in a vital Championship match on Tuesday evening. The contest takes place at St Mary’s Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm.

The home side have been excellent since the start of 2026. They pushed Manchester City hard during the FA Cup semi-final last weekend. A win against Ipswich would bring them to within one point of the visitors. This result would create a thrilling finish to the season on Saturday.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has the option to rotate his players. His squad showed great effort at Wembley, but he has quality alternatives on the bench. “We work all year for these important games,” Eckert explained. His main threats going forward include Ross Stewart, Cyle Larin, and Leo Scienza.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna wants to secure promotion without tension on the final day. His team need a win to guarantee a place in the Premier League next season. A draw offers little help to their cause, while a defeat would put them under serious pressure.

“Both teams will play for the win,” McKenna stated. “We will not sit back and accept a draw even if the score is level in the final minutes.”

Millwall and Middlesbrough remain in the hunt for automatic promotion. They will follow this result with great interest. A Southampton victory would bring those clubs back into contention for the top two positions.

Ipswich currently hold an automatic promotion spot. However, they have not played particularly well in recent weeks despite collecting points. This match will test their mental strength.

Southampton must win to keep their dreams of automatic promotion alive. The clash promises excitement under the floodlights.

• Manchester City defeated Southampton 2-1 to reach a fourth consecutive FA Cup final.
• Pep Guardiola insists his team must treat their final five league matches as decisive cup ties.
• City trail Arsenal by three points in the Premier League table but hold two games in hand.

Pep Guardiola has instructed his Manchester City squad to approach their remaining Premier League schedule as a series of cup finals. The demand came after his side staged a late recovery to beat Southampton and secure a place at Wembley.

Southampton appeared set for a surprise victory when Finn Azaz struck from 25 yards in the 79th minute. The lead lasted only three minutes, as substitute Jérémy Doku levelled the score. Nico González then sealed the win with a powerful long-range effort in the 87th minute.

The result sends City into the FA Cup final for the fourth year running. They will await the winner of the second semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds United. The final takes place on 16 May.

Guardiola praised his players for their second-half performance. He noted they created numerous opportunities and restricted the opposition’s advance. However, he stressed that the focus must now shift entirely to the domestic league title race.

Following Arsenal’s victory over Newcastle, City sit three points behind the league leaders. Crucially, the defending champions have two matches in hand. Their next fixture is an away trip to Everton.

“We have six cup finals now,” Guardiola stated. “Every Premier League game we win keeps us in the fight. If we lose one, our challenge is finished.”

The Southampton manager expressed frustration with the result but urged his players to recover quickly. He highlighted that conceding two goals from outside the penalty area is rare against City. His team must now prepare for a vital Championship fixture against Ipswich Town.