Despite having his hearing with the FA last Thursday, Tonda Eckert still awaits clarity on whether he’ll be allowed to continue as Southampton manager.
The German head coach was charged with three breaches of FA Rule E3.1 in July after the Saints were expelled from the Championship play-offs for spying on three opposition teams between December 2025 and May 2026.
While the FA has no specific rules on observing training sessions like the EFL, they are assessing the 33-year-old’s conduct and whether it requires any extra punishment, on top of expulsion from the play-offs, a four-point deduction and the natural consequences of extreme scrutiny.
The feeling at Southampton appears to be that it might, given the club’s pleading interviews early in the week of the Wembley hearing.
However, the process is taking so long that Southampton may end up walking into their next match - the vitally important South Coast derby - with Eckert still at the wheel. It’s a messy situation, but one that may suit them in one regard.
The FA process
Southampton play rivals Portsmouth in the South Coast derby on Sunday 11th October at St Mary’s. It’s the first game back from a three-week international break, but comes at an uncertain time for the home side.
Tonda Eckert may still await his verdict, but he could be spared for the derby game by what could turn out to be a lengthy process.
According to the FA’s handbook, this is their process:
1) Initial hearing with an Independent Regulatory Commission made up of pre-approved Judicial Panel members [Southampton’s hearing was 24th September]
2) Decision accepted or subject to appeal within 14 days [Saints by 8th October]
3) Upon receiving Notice of Appeal, Respondent then has up to 21 days to reply. [29th October]
4) Appeal board chaired by a barrister or solicitor, includes two non-council panel members and one independent.
5) Appeal board’s decision is final. No escalation to CAS [Court of Arbitration for Sport].
May play in Saints’ favour
It’s a process that may in fact benefit Southampton if they draw it out.
By waiting to deliver their verdict on the initial hearing’s decision, they could end up leaving any decision until three days before the South Coast derby.
It’s unlikely an appeal board and another hearing will have been delivered in such a short span of time, meaning the Saints could end up heading into the Portsmouth fixture with Eckert as their head coach on the touchline.
Of course, the club will be hoping the FA don’t wish to ban their integral manager in the first place, but the radio silence nearly a week after the initial hearing speaks a thousand words, and suggests there is a conflict of opinions between parties.
It’s a messy situation and one that could suit them for the derby, but should have been cleared up before the season began. The Saints will be hoping to finally move on from the saga that has embroiled the football club for months, but the FA will have a deciding say in whether the healing process will be quick.
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