Soccer-Southampton manager Eckert fined, given suspended ban for 'spygate' role


Soccer Football - Championship - Birmingham City v Southampton - St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 1, 2026 Southampton manager Tonda Eckert before the match Action Images/Jason Cairnduff

Oct 7 (Reuters) - ⁠Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has ⁠been handed a suspended ‌six-week ban and a £28,000 ($37,000) fine for his involvement in the "spygate" row, after admitting ​he authorised the ⁠observation of training ⁠sessions of three rival clubs last ⁠season.

• ‌The FA charged Eckert in July and ⁠an independent regulatory commission issued the ​sanctions ‌after a hearing, the FA ⁠said on ​Wednesday.

• The ban is suspended until the end of ⁠the 2027-28 season.

• Southampton were ​expelled from the Championship playoff final and handed a four-point ⁠deduction for the 2026-27 season for observing Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough in training.

• ​Southampton are 13th ⁠in the Championship with 10 points ​after eight matches.

($1 = ‌0.7564 pounds)

(Reporting by ​Chiranjit Ojha in Purulia, India, editing by Ed Osmond)

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