Where Tonda Eckert’s potential Spygate sanction ranks among football’s longest bans

A bombshell update involving the ongoing Spygate scandal was revealed on Wednesday night.

The Sun reported that sources from Southampton have a 'real concern' that the FA could go 'nuclear' when handing out an individual punishment to Tonda Eckert, with a crazy six-month ban potentially happening.

This would be a horrible situation for the Saints, as they'd surely be looking for a new manager, if the German were to be banned for such a lengthy amount of time.

Hopefully, with the FA hearing occurring today, this update from the Sun is later proven incorrect.

But, if he is banned for six months, where does that harsh penalty rank among some of the longest, and most notable bans in recent memory?

Ivan Toney (eight months)

In 2023, Ivan Toney would turn from hero to villain during his goalscoring peak at Brentford, when he was banned for eight months for admitting 232 breaches of the Football Association's betting rules.

Toney was in his goalscoring prime for the Bees when this untimely ban struck him down, having scored 20 Premier League goals during his final full season with the club.

He has since bounced back, as he now boasts 82 strikes on the books of Al-Ahli.

Eckert could look to Toney for some inspiration if his six month ban does become an unfortunate reality, as the one-time Peterborough United striker managed to move countries and rebuild his career elsewhere.

Eric Cantona (nine months)

Eric Cantona was handed a nine month exclusion from football all the way back in 1995 for his infamous kung-fu kick of a fan to the face at Selhurst Park.

Fined £20,000 as well, this is one of the more bizarre incidents on the list, with Cantona throwing punches at the supporter in question, too.

Like Toney, the entertaining Frenchman didn't let this ban ruin his career, as he finished his final season with Manchester United with 11 goals and 12 assists next to his name in top-flight action.

Eckert will hope he can brush off a similar lengthy ban if one arrives at his doorstep.

Sandro Tonali (ten months)

Following on from Toney being embroiled in a betting scandal, Sandro Tonali - during the infancy of his Newcastle United career - would be rocked by a ten month ban for similar betting rules being breached.

This would occur in October 2023, and the Italian midfielder has never been in the same awkward spotlight again, as he went on to become a much-loved midfield battler for the Magpies.

Currently at Tottenham Hotspur, the 26-year-old isn't particularly well-known for this scandal anymore.

Eckert will hope his own reputation isn't soiled permanently, if the worst possible scenario speculated in the media does play out.

Bradley Wood (six years)

There is quite some leap to the example of Bradley Wood, as the ex-Lincoln City defender was banned for six years from the beautiful game for match-fixing.

He deliberately tried to get booked during wins over Ipswich Town and Burnley for the Imps, telling close friends that he would receive yellow cards, so they could place bets on that happening.

This occurred in 2018, so Wood was allowed back into the sport in March 2024, and is currently playing in the lower reaches of non-league football with Louth Town, where he no doubt keeps a low profile.

Enoch West (30 years)

All this drama of a player being handed a ban isn't just exclusive to the modern game.

Indeed, in 1915, Manchester United forward Enoch West received a mighty 30-year suspension for his own match-fixing debacle, with it alleged that a 2-0 win for the Red Devils over Liverpool that same year was all part of an organised betting ring.

Eckert, thankfully, hasn't been accused of anything this severe, as he could well just be given a touchline ban, away from the Sun's doomsday predictions.

Olafur Gottskalksson (lifetime ban)

Lastly, Olafur Gottskalksson - who previously played for the likes of Torquay United and Brentford during the 1990's - was distributed an indefinite ban from the FA for failing to comply with a drug's test.

Rumours had circulated that the Icelandic stopper had a drug problem, so he fled Torquay when he was requested to do a drug test by the FA in early 2005.

His failure to do so resulted in him being booted from the game for life.

While many will believe that Eckert being individually punished is harsh, with the sanctions dished out to Southampton already enough, at least he doesn't have the threat of a lifetime ban breathing down his neck, as the whole Spygate saga will be wrapped up shortly when the final verdict is revealed to the world.

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