Southampton manager Tonda Eckert faces an FA investigation after being banned by the EFL for spying on rivals during training.
Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert issued a public apology to supporters on Tuesday regarding the Spygate scandal, where his staff were found watching opposition training sessions. The 33-year-old insisted that observing training sessions—especially before matches—is routine in his native Germany. He cited Pep Guardiola’s comments about spying being common in German football during his time at Bayern Munich. Eckert explained that his lack of awareness of English Football League (EFL) rules led to Southampton’s expulsion from last month’s Championship play-offs.
Eckert now confronts a formal Football Association inquiry into his actions, with potential sanctions including a suspension if found culpable. The EFL’s decision to disqualify Southampton hinged on their rule prohibiting training observations within 72 hours of a match. Had his staff arrived earlier, as initially planned, they might have avoided punishment on a technicality.
Monitoring rival training sessions is easier in Germany due to many Bundesliga clubs hosting open sessions accessible to fans. This setup allows opponents to attend, record, and analyze without breaking explicit rules. Guardiola confirmed that Bayern Munich faced constant scrutiny during his tenure, with cameras capturing their sessions. He noted that such practices are widespread across football and society, saying, In other countries everyone does it, [but] it's more difficult here.
Several notable cases highlight spying’s prevalence in German football. RB Leipzig’s current manager, Ole Werner, admitted using drones over opposition training grounds while coaching Werder Bremen. In another incident, Werder had to apologize when a video analyst flew a drone over Hoffenheim’s facility, triggering a police probe into potential aviation violations. A journalist covering Union Berlin recounted how the club’s sporting director chased away a Werder scout by threatening to publish his photo.
Former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic disguised himself as a steward to watch Real Madrid train before a Champions League clash in 2013. During the same tournament, France’s Didier Deschamps halted a private session after spotting a drone overhead, with Eckert then serving as Germany’s analyst. At Werder Bremen, Werner also deployed backroom staff to hide in bushes to gather intelligence on rivals. These revelations underscore the casual attitude toward spying in German football culture.
German football’s response to spying incidents tends to be dismissive rather than outraged. Kevin Hatchard, a Bundesliga match commentator, noted that such behavior is often met with humor, such as remarks like better look next time you cheeky scamp. He argued that open training sessions are considered fair game, and punishments rarely escalate beyond mild embarrassment. Hatchard added, The general feeling is that spying is a side issue and not taken very seriously.
Eckert suggested his actions were influenced by the football world he grew up in, stating, I don't want to say this to excuse anything we have done, I just want to give you context of the football world I grew up in. However, critics argue that his awareness of EFL rules should have been higher given his prior role as assistant manager at Barnsley in League One. Hatchard expressed shock that Eckert, known for his attention to detail, failed to consider the implications of his actions in England.
Past reports link Eckert to spying incidents beyond the Southampton scandal. In 2015, a German newspaper revealed that Cologne—where Eckert worked as a youth coach—had sent an analyst to spy on Hamburg during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai. During the 2014 World Cup, France manager Didier Deschamps accused Germany of drone surveillance during a private session, a claim Eckert was indirectly associated with. These incidents raise questions about his familiarity with spying norms.
Steve Grant, co-host of the Total Saints podcast, described the scandal as stupid and ill-conceived but highlighted a double standard in English football. He quipped, But it is a very British thing to clutch our pearls at the concept of fair play [regarding spying] while being happy for our centre-forward to dive in the penalty area. The contrast between England’s strict rules and Germany’s lenient approach has fueled debate over cultural differences in football conduct.