The English Football Association (FA) has charged Southampton manager Tonda Eckert with three breaches of FA rule E3.1 in relation to a spying scandal that led to the club's expulsion from the Championship playoffs last season.

Southampton admitted to spying on a training session of playoff semifinal opponents Middlesbrough in May, as well as earlier surveillance of Ipswich and Oxford training sessions. The club was subsequently expelled from the playoff final against Hull and deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.

An independent disciplinary commission found that the espionage was authorized by Eckert and described it as a "contrived and determined plan from the top down." The FA launched an investigation and has now formally charged the manager.

Eckert has until next Tuesday to respond to the charges. Southampton stated they will "cooperate fully and openly" with the FA and continue to support Eckert. Club owner Dragan Solak previously indicated he had no intention of sacking the manager.

The financial impact on Southampton was severe, with promotion to the Premier League valued at an estimated £200 million ($267 million). The club begins its new season with a League Cup first-round tie at Colchester on August 8.

Source: www.aljazeera.com