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#Post#: 109581--------------------------------------------------
Re: Spygate 2.0 (Southampton)
DIR By: Leggy
Date: July 22, 2026, 11:11 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: gooner link ---
>
> [quote author=TA_Ref link=topic=8002.msg109576#msg109576
date=1784718626]
> Not certain as of yet. The manager Tonda Eckert has until the
28th July to respond to the charges although it is reported he
is unlikely to challenge them.
>
> This is Southampton’s most recent club statement.
>
> “ Southampton Football Club and First Team Head Coach Tonda
Eckert acknowledge today’s charges from The FA relating to a
breach of Rule E3.1.
>
> Tonda and the club will continue to cooperate fully and openly
with The FA.
>
> Our focus remains on preparations for the 2026/27 Championship
season. The club remains fully supportive of Tonda and his staff
as we work towards our ambition of returning to the Premier
League.
>
> We are unable to comment further while the process remains
ongoing, but we will provide an update to supporters as soon as
we are in a position to do so.”
>
--- End Quote ---
hi,
thanks [emoji106]
it's being reported that the head coach still has the full
backing of the owner, who believes the club have been punished
enough already [emoji53]
regards,
gnr
[/quote]
I am sure that he (the owner) does! The FA, however, may decide
otherwise. And - in my view - they would be right to do so.
#Post#: 109583--------------------------------------------------
Re: Spygate 2.0 (Southampton)
DIR By: rustyref
Date: July 22, 2026, 11:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Any further punishment does feel like a bit of a double jeopardy
to me. Kicking Southampton out of the play off final was
essentially the biggest ever punishment handed out in World
football, their chances of a promotion worth £200 million went
from 50% to 0%. Just not sure it feels right to go after them
again, especially after they have waited so long and we are now
a few weeks from the season starting. If going to charge them
why not do it at the end of May straight after it happened?
#Post#: 109586--------------------------------------------------
Re: Spygate 2.0 (Southampton)
DIR By: OwdReds
Date: July 22, 2026, 12:22 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
My guess is that the FA wanted to get their case watertight
before doing so. I agree that a charge against the club feels
like double jeopardy but this is the only way an individual can
be charged and it feels right that Eckhart should receive some
sort of sanction. The officials found guilty of spying at the
Womens World Cup got a 12 month ban so watch this space.
#Post#: 109587--------------------------------------------------
Re: Spygate 2.0 (Southampton)
DIR By: bmb
Date: July 22, 2026, 1:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> Any further punishment does feel like a bit of a double
jeopardy to me. Kicking Southampton out of the play off final
was essentially the biggest ever punishment handed out in World
football, their chances of a promotion worth £200 million went
from 50% to 0%. Just not sure it feels right to go after them
again, especially after they have waited so long and we are now
a few weeks from the season starting. If going to charge them
why not do it at the end of May straight after it happened?
>
--- End Quote ---
I disagree. The club may have been punished but the coach hasn't
been held accountable for his actions. This charge is related to
him and not the club per se. He and the club were told when they
were kicked out of the playoffs that the investigation was still
ongoing in relation to the coach and there was a possibility
charges against him as an individual would follow. They have
done as said.
#Post#: 109589--------------------------------------------------
Re: Spygate 2.0 (Southampton)
DIR By: rustyref
Date: July 22, 2026, 1:39 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: bmb link ---
>
> [quote author=rustyref link=topic=8002.msg109583#msg109583
date=1784738955]
> Any further punishment does feel like a bit of a double
jeopardy to me. Kicking Southampton out of the play off final
was essentially the biggest ever punishment handed out in World
football, their chances of a promotion worth £200 million went
from 50% to 0%. Just not sure it feels right to go after them
again, especially after they have waited so long and we are now
a few weeks from the season starting. If going to charge them
why not do it at the end of May straight after it happened?
>
--- End Quote ---
I disagree. The club may have been punished but the coach hasn't
been held accountable for his actions. This charge is related to
him and not the club per se. He and the club were told when they
were kicked out of the playoffs that the investigation was still
ongoing in relation to the coach and there was a possibility
charges against him as an individual would follow. They have
done as said.
[/quote]
Fair points, I'm just not sure they will be able to make a
charge stick and it could become a very expensive process.
Acting in an improper manner and / or bringing the game into
disrepute is a very wooly charge, and it could be said that
someone does something that fits into one of those categories in
most professional football games. If he and the club get a good
lawyer they should be able to drive a coach and horses through
the charge. There will be no winners from it, if he gets a fine
and / or a short ban so what, and if he gets a ban as long as a
year as some people have been suggesting that becomes a
potential restraint of trade case that an appeal or CAS will
probably overturn.
And whilst I agree it was an individual charge rather than club,
it effectively is also a charge against the club as they have no
idea whether their manager will be able to manage or not. In
cases like this the sanction issued is often a deterrent to
others as much as a punishment, Rick Parry was asked whether
they will change the EFL rules to specify what the punishment
will be if a club does this again and he replied saying no one
will ever be silly enough to do that given what happened to
Southampton. Is there a bigger deterrent than risk being kicked
out of a £200 million football game?
#Post#: 111652--------------------------------------------------
Re: Spygate 2.0 (Southampton)
DIR By: gooner
Date: September 14, 2026, 4:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
hi,
all seems forgotten about now...
southampton with same manager, back in play-off places
(admittedly only 15% of season gone so far), opposition fans no
longer doing the 'binoculars' gesture...
[emoji15][emoji15]
regards,
gnr
#Post#: 111719--------------------------------------------------
Re: Spygate 2.0 (Southampton)
DIR By: Leggy
Date: September 14, 2026, 11:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: gooner link ---
>
> hi,
>
> all seems forgotten about now...
>
> southampton with same manager, back in play-off places
(admittedly only 15% of season gone so far), opposition fans no
longer doing the 'binoculars' gesture...
>
> [emoji15][emoji15]
>
> regards,
>
> gnr
>
--- End Quote ---
The FA are still to opine - may take a while, but that will
remind everyone!
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