FA open investigation into Southampton

The Football Association is investigating Southampton's conduct after the club admitted to spying on three other Championship sides during the past season.

Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting observing opponents' training sessions within 72 hours of a game, with Middlesbrough reinstated to contest Saturday's final against Hull City

Saints have also been deducted four points in the Championship next season.

Southampton's appeal against the punishment on the grounds that it was "disproportionate" was dismissed on Wednesday evening.

A spokesperson for the FA, which governs football in England, said it "won't comment further until we have assessed the evidence".

The FA will look into who participated in the spying, assessing the culpability of those who encouraged it or knew it was happening.

The English Football League, which brought the charges against Southampton, can only take action against its member clubs.

With the FA now looking into the matter the individuals involved could face charges, and potential bans.

At the 2024 Olympics, Canada's women's team were found guilty of spying on New Zealand.

World governing body Fifa banned three members of staff - including the head coach Bev Priestman - from football for a year.

When Will Still was sacked by Southampton on 2 November, Saints were in 21st place - three points outside the Championship relegation zone with one win in 13 games.

That is when the club turned to Eckert, who had only arrived at St Mary's in July 2025 when he replaced a Chelsea-bound Calum McFarlane and took charge of the club's under-21 team.

He appeared perfect for that academy job.

Eckert's career had largely involved youth football, in his homeland with Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. He had also helped the under-18s at Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg win the Uefa Youth League.

Four months after moving to Saints, he would replace Still and manage a club in one of the biggest leagues in Europe.

Eckert's only prior work in senior football came through 15 months as the number two at Barnsley, and three years as assistant boss at Italian club Genoa.

But he was well known to Johannes Spors, Southampton's sporting director, as they were at Genoa together.

So Eckert, at the age of 32 and with no previous managerial experience, stepped into Still's shoes on an interim basis which became permanent a month later.

Eckert won a hat-trick of Championship manager of the month awards - for February, March and April - as Saints not only stormed into play-offs but finished within four points of the automatic places.

Southampton (68) won more points after Eckert took charge than any other club - including champions Coventry City (67).

But just 48 hours before they played Middlesbrough in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, Southampton's world came crashing down.