Tonda Eckert has apologised for his role in the spying scandal that led to Southampton being expelled from the Championship playoff final. The club was found to have observed training sessions of three opponents during the season, with an independent disciplinary commission ruling that Southampton “seriously violated” the integrity of the competition.
In a video message released by the club, Eckert accepted “full responsibility” and apologised to the affected clubs and supporters. Southampton owner Dragan Solak confirmed he will not sack the German head coach, despite an ongoing Football Association investigation, and expressed his desire for Eckert to lead the club into the Premier League next season.
Eckert cited his coaching experiences in Germany and Italy, as well as comments by Pep Guardiola, as context for the spying missions. He ordered analysts to observe Oxford United and Ipswich during the regular season, and sent an analyst to Middlesbrough before the playoff semi-final first leg. Eckert claimed the spying had no effect on sporting performance, stating the reason for observing Oxford was to check their defensive formation and Middlesbrough to see if Hayden Hackney would play.
An intern was initially asked to spy on Ipswich but refused, leading to an academy analyst recording footage. Eckert expressed devastation at the outcome and the need to rebuild trust with supporters. Solak backed Eckert, calling his tenure a success and emphasising the goal of promotion back to the Premier League.
