Football: Spygate decision on Southampton FC Manager
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The Manager of Southampton FC, Tonda Eckert, who is German and 33 years old, has now been sanctioned for his part in the so-called ‘Spygate’ affair after the Club admitted that they spied on three clubs during last season.
An English Football Association (FA) independent disciplinary commission had previously ruled that the espionage was authorised by Eckert and has now handed him a six-week ban from all football, but this has been suspended until the end of next season.
He has also been fined £28,000 (around €33,000) and received a reprimand.
The FA had sought a three-month ban, but the commission gave credit to Eckert for what they called "considerable mitigation in this matter, most particularly around the genuine contrition".
The FA has not, so far, indicated whether it will appeal this decision.
Southampton FC stated that:
"We hope this now brings a conclusion to a regrettable period of our history, and measures have been put in place to ensure that such errors in judgement never happen again at our club."
Eckert apologised and claimed that he was not aware that the practice was banned and that it had not had any impact upon his team's performances.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
