Southampton boss Tonda Eckert will continue in his role after being handed a six-week ban suspended until the end of next season over the ‘Spygate’ scandal.

Saints were kicked out of the Championship play-off final and docked four points this term having admitted three breaches of EFL regulations after being caught snooping on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough and two other teams.

Eckert accepted full responsibility and was charged by the FA with three breaches of Rule E3.1 in relation to “misconduct”, which hung over Southampton and their manager heading into the new campaign.

This ends ‘regrettable period in our history’ – Southampton

The German coach attended an FA hearing at the start of the international break and is able to continue his role against rivals Portsmouth this Sunday and beyond.

A statement from the governing body read: “Tonda Eckert subsequently admitted the charges, and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed a six-week suspension from all football and football-related activity, which is suspended until the end of the 2027/28 season, a £28,000 fine and a reprimand following a hearing.

“The suspended sanction will come into effect in the event he is found to have committed a breach of Rules or Regulations by requesting, authorising, taking, or using information from any observation of the training of another club, in whatever guise that observation may take.”

The punishment is likely to draw strong opinions from across the game, with Southampton saying in a statement “this now brings a conclusion to a regrettable period of our history”.

The club, who sit 13th in the Championship, say “measures have been put in place to ensure that such errors in judgement never happen again at our club” and they are “excited to move forward together towards a bright future”.

Saints owner criticises EFL over Spygate handling

Southampton owner Dragan Solak said: “I’m pleased that the independent panel has come to a decision and that we have an outcome.

“We have already suffered enough, and we appreciate the panel’s recognition of that.

“We are confident the manager has learned from this matter, and a suspended sentence allows him to continue in his role.

“I firmly believe that Tonda is one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches, and with this distraction removed, I am confident he can lead the team to a successful season. I’d like to thank our fans for standing by us and showing the team so much support during a time when we have needed them more than ever.

“The FA process has been a positive experience. Tonda has been given the opportunity to be open and honest with the panel, and the panel has been able to see that he is simply a good person who made poor decisions.

“The same cannot be said for the EFL process, and the way they have subsequently treated us is not something we will forget.

“However, now is the time to look forward to what I believe will be a great future for our club.”

Sky Sports News has approached the EFL regarding the Southampton owner’s comments criticising the organisation’s handling of the case.

The Southampton boss was charged by the FA with misconduct and potentially bringing the game into disrepute in July and later admitted to the charges.

The EFL expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs in May and handed the club a four-point deduction for the 2026/27 season after they admitted “multiple breaches” relating to the unauthorised filming of their opponents’ training, including before their semi-final against Middlesbrough.

Southampton beat Middlesbrough and were due to play Hull City in the play-off final before Boro were reinstated. Southampton appealed the decision, but the punishments were upheld by a League Arbitration Panel.

During the Spygate hearing, the EFL only had the power to charge clubs, not individuals. The FA waited for the EFL process to run its course before launching its own investigation.

Eckert ‘loved’ spying information

In June, Eckert said he took full responsibility “for everything that happened”, apologising to players, staff and supporters.

At that time, Southampton chairman Dragan Solak admitted Eckert had made a “mistake” but said the club was “fully behind him”, reaffirming their target of winning promotion to the Premier League.

In the written reasons released following the League Arbitration Panel’s decision to dismiss Southampton’s appeal against their punishment, Saints’ conduct was described as a “contrived and determined plan from the top down”.

Eckert “loved” the information a junior analyst intern gathered when spying on one of his team’s opponents, according to messages used as evidence in the hearing.

The written reasons detail how analysts felt pressure to carry out jobs asked of them as a colleague had lost their job earlier in the season.

The panel added: “A reprimand is considered appropriate because of the way in which junior members of staff were put under pressure to carry out activities which they felt were, at the least, morally wrong.”

Spygate timeline: How did we get here?

May 7: Middlesbrough make formal complaint to the EFL alleging a Southampton member of staff spied on their training session three days before their Championship play-off semi-final first leg.

May 9: Boro boss Kim Hellberg accuses Southampton of cheating after the first leg ends in a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium.

May 12: Southampton charged with a breach of EFL regulations in relation to the spying accusations. Southampton request additional time to conduct an internal review.

The play-off semi-final second leg is played at St Mary’s. Shea Charles’ extra-time winner earns Southampton a 2-1 victory and a place in the Championship play-off final.

Emotional Hellberg hits out at “disgraceful spying”, before Saints boss Tonda Eckert storms out of his press conference after being asked: “Are you a cheat?”

May 13: Photos allegedly showing the Southampton analyst near Middlesbrough’s training ground released publicly.

May 14: It is announced the independent hearing to determine Southampton’s fate will take place on or before Tuesday May 19. In a statement, the EFL say “the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture.”

May 15: Middlesbrough publicly call for Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs. In a statement, they said: “In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final.”

May 18: Middlesbrough players return to training as the outcome of the independent disciplinary hearing nears.

May 19: EFL announces Southampton expelled from play-off final after hearing.

May 20: Southampton appeal rejected.

May 21: FA confirm they will begin their own investigation into Spygate.

May 23: Middlesbrough lose 1-0 to Hull City in the Championship play-off final.

June 1: WhatsApp messages reveal Eckert “loved” spying information despite the concerns of junior members of Southampton staff.

June 2: Eckert takes full responsibility for Spygate as Southampton owner Dragan Solak backs head coach.

June 17: Eckert tells Sky Sports News he received police protection amid threats during Spygate.

July 22: FA charges Southampton head coach Eckert with three breaches of rule E3.1.

September 25: Eckert is given a suspended six-week ban, running until the end of the 2027/28 season, and a fine.

‘One of the most difficult moments in Southampton’s entire history’

Analysis from Sky Sports News’ Mark McAdam:

Southampton fans have been waiting for this news throughout the international break.

Remember, it was a couple of weeks ago where the FA sat down to go through all of the evidence and decide what sanctions – if there should be any – that will be meted out towards Tonda Eckert. The Southampton manger was involved in probably one of the most difficult moments in Southampton’s entire history [and] probably one of the darkest moments in the club’s history – and we know that Tonda Eckert was the head coach and was involved in this spying.

Now a lot of people thought this matter was closed, but the EFL can only sanction clubs not individuals. That’s where the FA comes in and their hearing has been happening over the last couple of weeks.

What we know is that Tonda Eckert has a six-week suspended ban – he can still operate as normal. However, if there are any further rule breaches [and] he does anything at all which is not in the rulebook, this will be imposed. He’s got a £28,000 fine and a reprimand.

He has broken rules, he’s faced his punishment, Southampton have been kicked out of the play-offs, and they had a four-point deduction this season.

This probably feels like a sensible decision from those that have made it, the FA Regulatory Commission.

This now brings to a close what has probably been the most difficult chapter in his life and certainly a very difficult chapter for Southampton Football Club.

Two-time world champion Luke Littler can still qualify for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead – but what else can he win?

His unprecedented 12-month clean sweep may be over following a crushing 10-4 defeat by Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam and a shock first-round exit at the World Grand Prix, but he can still qualify for next month’s Players Championship Finals.

The world No 1 had won the first six premier events of the season following his World Championship triumph at Alexandra Palace in January with the World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay.

He had been hoping to add the World Series of Darts Finals, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals trophies to complete a historic clean sweep of the year. But his bid was derailed by Clayton, who reeled off seven of the final eight legs to defeat the teenager before overcoming Luke Woodhouse in Leicester, where he suffered a 2-1 defeat in the double-in, double-out tournament.

At the weekend, 19-year-old Littler was beaten by Cam Crabtree in the semi-finals of the World Youth Championship.

Had he gone on to win the title, Littler would have become the first player to hold both the World Championship and World Youth titles.

The final will take place on Sunday, November 29, in Minehead as part of the Players Championship Finals, a tournament Littler won last year but has yet to qualify for this time around.

With just two floor events remaining before the Players Championship Finals, Littler can still earn enough prize money to qualify for the tournament – but will he make the trip to Leicester on November 4 and 5?

The top 64 players on the ProTour Order of Merit qualify for the Minehead showpiece, with the projected cut-off expected to exceed £30,000 after all 34 events. Littler currently sits in 126th place with £10,500, while Mike De Decker occupies the final qualifying spot in 64th with £29,250.

That leaves ‘The Nuke’ with a slim route into Minehead, but he would likely need to reach the final of at least one – and potentially both – of the final two ProTour events to force his way into the field.

Littler won the 2025 title, defeating Nathan Aspinall 11-8 in the final.

Speaking on the Love The Darts podcast, Matt Edgar believes Littler is unlikely to compete in the final two ProTour events of the season

“There is an opportunity here to be undisputed champion of the world – to own both of those world championships in the PDC. Playing in the World Youth Championship was an interesting decision. I didn’t think he would make it, but I’m kind of glad he did,” said Edgar.

“I also think there’s a big misunderstanding about what that tournament was because there were people suggesting that maybe he shouldn’t have been there. This isn’t the Development Tour Finals. This was a world championship, and I don’t ever want to exist in a world of sport where someone is excluded from a world championship for being too good.

“I’m glad he went to the World Youth Championship, but I think if he had got to the final, then maybe we would have seen him at the ProTours. There’s no point going all the way down to Minehead if you’re not going to play the Players Championship Finals as well.

“I think he would [have played the final two ProTour events] had he got into the World Youth final, but I think now it’s off the cards.”

Players Championship prize money

• Second round: £1,250

• Third round: £2,000

• Fourth round: £3,000

• Quarter-finals: £4,000

• Semi-finals: £6,500

• Runner-up: £10,000

• Final: £15,000

You would be brave to bet against Luke Littler winning the Grand Slam of Darts because the Warrington phenom has a perfect career record at the tournament in Wolverhampton, backing up his 2024 triumph with victory last year.

And then to Alexandra Palace where the teenager will bid to become a triple world champion.

He is aiming to become the first player to win three world titles in a row since Phil Taylor did it in 2006, although ‘The Power’ did win eight in a row from 1995 to 2002.

Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14-22) and World Darts Championship (December 11-January 3) all live. Stream darts and more through NOW with no contract.

The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday’s newspapers…

PREMIER LEAGUE

Mikel Arteta has become the Premier League’s highest-paid boss on a £20m-a-year new contract – Daily Mail

Liverpool are weighing up another blockbuster signing to add to their mega money attacking line-up – Daily Star

The agent of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Enzo Raiola, has revealed Manchester City have provided his client with reassurances after the club’s recent guilty verdict – Daily Mirror

Kieran McKenna has landed a new job working as a technical observer for UEFA just months after leaving Ipswich – The Sun

Ex-Premier League star Cheikhou Kouyate has revealed that he spent years battling a heart condition. Kouyate, who recently announced his retirement, kept the problem a secret throughout his playing career – Daily Mirror

ENGLAND

Thomas Tuchel says the “train is rolling” without Cole Palmer after England impressed in his absence during the Nations League camp – Evening Standard

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Lawrence Shankland has delivered a major update on his hamstring injury and recovery – Scottish Sun

Hibs have confirmed that an Easter Road fan favourite and a former Celtic star will be part of new first team boss Marink Reedijk’s backroom team – Scottish Sun

ELSEWHERE

Lionel Messi was bizarrely gifted a yellow and red card by the referee who took charge of his final game for Argentina – Daily Mail

Matildas star Mary Fowler has reportedly returned to Australia to be with her injured boyfriend, Nathan Cleary, after her sudden withdrawal from international duty left senior football officials unimpressed – Daily Mail

F1

Rwanda looks set to pip South Africa to the post as Formula 1 nears a permanent return to Africa – The Independent