Southampton shocked the footballing world back in May when the Spygate revelations first came to the surface.
Indeed, it had come to light that the Saints had been actively spying on training sessions, with it all coming to a head when an intern was spotted taking in a Middlesbrough practice session, in the build-up to the hotly contested Championship playoffs.
Consequently, Tonda Eckert and Co. were expelled from the playoff lottery in a brutal move by the EFL, and have since been docked four points heading into the 2026/27 second tier season.
Any chance of a clean slate has been wiped away, and it's still not certain what the future of Eckert will look like in the dug-out, as he awaits the verdict of his FA hearing, with the rumoured punishments ranging from a short touchline ban, to a 6-month removal from the game.
It's a state of purgatory for the Saints that never feels as if it's going to cease, but all the talk of Spygate has died down somewhat, when contrasted with the bombshell news of Manchester City's 115 charges over the break.
The bombshell Man City news
When David Ornstein takes to his social media soapbox, you know an earth-shuddering bit of news is about to drop in the world of football.
Last Friday, the well-respected Athletic journalist caused chaos by revealing that Man City had been found guilty of 114 of 115 charges against them involving alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/Muxqp4beK9
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 25, 2026
During this period of alleged breaches, it is reported that City "won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup four times and the Community Shield", which brings this unbelievable sweep of trophies into disrepute majorly.
The potential sanctions are very severe, with a removal from the Premier League not off the table, alongside a sizeable points deduction.
City could even be stripped of all their honours, with the memorable successes they had under Roberto Mancini and Pep Guardiola irrevocably stained.
Saints fans watching the mess unfold at the Etihad must be left wondering if their beloved club has been punished enough, with the Spygate scandal feeling pretty minor now in comparison to City's widespread accusations.
Has Southampton been punished enough?
Indeed, City's long list of alleged breaches is over a sustained period of time, starting in 2009 and going up to 2017.
In Southampton's corner, their Spygate troubles only fall over one season, and they seem to have learnt their lesson.
Eckert has managed to collect four wins this season in the Championship, too, without any spying giving him a secret upper-hand, so it's not as if he was completely reliant on some dark arts to pick up victories.
Whereas, these alleged financial breaches, on the end of City, gave them a majorly unfair unadvantage in picking up trophy after trophy with ease.
Southampton will feel that they've been punished enough already, with an expulsion from the Championship playoffs, and a points deduction, a fair enough penalty, all things considered, especially as an expulsion and points being docked could soon arrive at the Premier League giants' door, for reputed breaches that are far more damning.
It remains to be seen what the individual punishment coming Eckert's way is, with the St Mary's masses becoming very aggrieved if the book is thrown at them, again, and City somehow manage to wriggle their way out of the litany of charges next to their name.
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