Tonda Eckert

Eckert escaped serious punishment for his involvement in the scheme

Summer signing Iker Bravo and teenage academy product Amin Nabizada gave new Watford manager Alessio Dionisi a fine win while Southampton’s players were heckled, both on the pitch and from the stands, for their actions at the end of last season

Head coach Tonda Eckert, sporting director Johannes Spors and CEO Phil Parsons were all at at the top table and asked questions by the supporters

Last month Eckert finally made a clear public statement admitting his role in the scandal

Despite bringing his club and English football into disrepute following a blatant act of cheating, Eckert will be given a 'second chance'

After one of the fraught fortnights in EFL history, one chapter of the drama concluded on Saturday as Ollie McBernie's 95th-minute winner sent Hull City into the Premier League at the expense of Middlesbrough

Southampton admitted filming training sessions involving Middlesbrough, Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the Championship season

Southampton, who drew the first leg 0-0 before winning 2-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, have been expelled from the playoffs and given a four-point deduction for next season

Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting to spying on opponents on three occasions this season, including play-off opponents Middlesbrough earlier this month

Southampton FC thrown out of Championship play-off final over ‘spygate’

It would mean Middlesbrough replace Southampton in Saturday's final, with the North East outfit taking on Hull for a spot in the Premier League

Next week’s Championship play-off final could be delayed as the English Football League (EFL) investigates alleged spying by finalists Southampton FC

Southampton defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 after extra time in the second leg of the play-off semi-final, with goals from Ross Stewart and Shea Charles cancelling out Riley McGree's early opener

Southampton defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 after extra time in the second leg of the play-off semi-final, with goals from Ross Stewart and Shea Charles cancelling out Riley McGree's early opener

Southampton advanced to the playoff final against Hull City, though it seems unlikely it will be quite that straightforward from here owing to the alleged foul play that dominated the buildup to a fraught second leg that went the distance, more than 130 minutes in total

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert abruptly ended his post-match press conference, walking out after repeatedly refusing to address questions regarding the ‘spygate’ controversy that has overshadowed the Championship play-off semi-final

Fernandez header fires Chelsea past Leeds and into FA Cup final vs City

Nico Gonzalez's stunning strike fired Manchester City into a record fourth consecutive FA Cup final as Pep Guardiola's men produced a late fightback to beat Southampton 2-1 on Saturday

He was raised in Flixton, on the outskirts of Manchester, and when he signed to join City’s academy aged eight he was flanked by Patrick Vieira, fresh into a youth development role after his retirement from playing

However, their treble tilt ended on the south coast after Charles secured a late 2-1 victory as Southampton bounced back from Viktor Gyokeres cancelling out Ross Stewart’s first half opener

Currently sitting bottom of League One with 27 points from 32 matches as of early March 2026, the Valiants delivered a stunning upset on March 8, knocking out Premier League Sunderland 1-0 in the FA Cup fifth round at Vale Park