Eckert silences Spygate critics with one word after FA hands Southampton boss suspended ban

Tonda Eckert will be in the dugout for Southampton’s Championship derby against Portsmouth on Sunday after the FA handed the German manager a six-week suspended ban and a £28,000 fine for authorising the spying on opponents that became known as Spygate.

The punishment, confirmed this week, means Eckert faces no immediate ban — he will only serve the suspension if he commits a similar offence before the end of the 2027/28 season. Southampton had braced for a far harsher outcome, and the club has already suffered significant consequences: ejection from the Championship play-off final and a four-point EFL deduction.

The FA’s independent commission described Eckert as an “exceptionally impressive” witness and credited his sincere contrition, factors that weighed heavily in his favour. The panel also indicated it did not want to compound the punishment already absorbed by the club.

For those who felt Eckert escaped too lightly, the 33-year-old had a characteristically brief response. Asked at his pre-match press conference what he would say to his critics, he replied with a single word: “Nothing.”

He was more expansive on the relief of having the matter resolved ahead of such a high-stakes fixture. “It’s a big week for us as a football club,” Eckert said. “We’re heading into a very important game on Sunday and to have clarity as quick as possible going into such an important game, I think has not just been a relief for me but everyone involved.”

Eckert acknowledged the verdict could have gone the other way and accepted personal responsibility for the episode. “For me it’s just to hold my head up — one more time I made a mistake and it’s for me to take the consequences,” he said.

The manager also expressed gratitude to owner Dragan Solak and the Southampton board for standing by him at a time when external pressure had been mounting for his dismissal. “I think there are many football clubs that take a different decision in the summer,” Eckert said. “What makes this club special is that in times that are a lot tougher and especially with a lot of outside pressure, that we come to a decision the way we have done it.”

With the Spygate saga now formally closed, Eckert can turn his full attention to the promotion push — beginning with a derby that carries its own considerable weight for the Saints faithful.