What sanctions did Southampton get?published at 16:14 BST 7 October
16:14 BST 7 October
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Prior to today’s sanction from the FA, Southampton were thrown out of last season’s Championship play-off final after admitting they spied on three clubs during the season.
It meant that the Saints missed out on a game dubbed the richest in world football, with the winners of the contest guaranteed a minimum £110m in Premier League broadcast revenue.
Middlesbrough, beaten by Southampton in the two-legged semi-final, were reinstated and lost to Hull City, who secured Premier League football.
The EFL charged Saints with watching training sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town, in addition to filming Middlesbrough as they prepared for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on 7 May.
The independent disciplinary commission also handed Southampton a four-point deduction in the Championship for 2026-27 season.
The EFL said Southampton admitted to “multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training” and received a reprimand in respect of all the charges.
Today, Eckert has been fined £28,000 by the FA as well as given a six week ban which has suspended until the end of next season.