Southampton head coach charged with misconduct by FA

It quoted the FA as saying that Eckert had been "charged with three breaches of FA Rule E3.1 in relation to misconduct between December 2025 and May 2026" and added: "It's alleged that the head coach acted in an improper manner and/or brought the game into disrepute by directing and/or authorising the observation of training sessions of Oxford United FC, Ipswich Town FC and Middlesbrough FC ahead of fixtures between these clubs and Southampton FC in December 2025, April 2026 and May 2026 respectively."

"Saints were thrown out of the Championship play-offs by the EFL in May over the affair and docked four points for the coming season. The club admitted using junior staff to spy on a training session held by play-off opponents Middlesbrough in May, and on sessions at Ipswich and Oxford earlier in the season," Sky News said.

Southampton F.C. is 100% owned by St Mary's Football Group Ltd which is majority-owned by Sport Republic, led by investors Rasmus Ankersen, Henrik Kraft, and lead investor/chairman Dragan Solak.