Tonda Eckert will remain in charge of Southampton after the Football Association handed him a six-week ban but suspended the punishment.

The Southampton boss was sanctioned for his role in the club’s “Spygate” scandal after admitting to authorising the observation of training sessions belonging to Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough last season.

However, Eckert will not serve the ban immediately. The six-week suspension has been deferred until the end of the 2027/28 season, meaning he can continue managing Southampton.
The 33-year-old has also been fined £28,000 and received a formal reprimand.

The FA pushed for a much longer punishment, but an independent commission considered Eckert’s admission, cooperation and remorse when deciding the final sanction.

Southampton had already suffered major consequences from the scandal, being expelled from last season’s Championship play-offs and receiving a four-point deduction for the current campaign.

Eckert can now continue preparing Southampton for their upcoming fixtures, with the suspended ban only activated if he commits another related breach before the end of the suspension period.

For Eckert, the job continues, but there is little room for another mistake.