Southampton boss Tonda Eckert charged by FA over Spygate scandal

Published Jul 22, 10:30 AM UTC

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been formally charged by the Football Association (FA) for his role in the Spygate scandal. The club was expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after admitting to spying on three clubs during the season. An independent disciplinary commission ruled that the espionage was authorized by Eckert and described it as a 'contrived and determined plan from the top down.' The FA has since conducted an investigation into who participated in the spying and assessed the culpability of those who knew it was happening. The charges mark a significant escalation in the fallout from the scandal, which has already seen Southampton removed from the play-offs. The club's owner had previously stated he would not sack Eckert over the incident.