While it may appear that the Spygate controversy has died down, Southampton fans are aware that more information about manager Tonda Eckert will be revealed in due course.

The Saints were kicked out of the Championship play-offs after being found guilty of many acts of spying, including against Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, and Oxford United.

Since then, both chairman Dragan Solak and Eckert have talked publicly about the situation, but the fate of the FA’s enquiry against the German remains uncertain.

With just over a month till the start of the 2026/27 season, the South Coast has provided an update.

Tonda Eckert, Southampton’s manager, interviews with the FA.

Eckert is expected to face a lengthy ban for acknowledging his role in the Spygate affair, however the actual sentence remains unknown.

Solak has publicly supported his boss despite a probable approaching ban, but it will be interesting to see if his opinion changes depending on what occurs.

According to Alfie House of the Southern Daily Echo, Eckert is interviewing with the FA today (2 July) as part of the continuing Spygate enquiry.

He adds that he does not expect an immediate verdict, but that this is the newest development with only 37 days until Southampton’s season opener against Colchester United in the Carabao Cup.

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What may Eckert’s FA ban entail?

There have been numerous publications speculating on the type of ban Eckert could face, and the truth is that there are several possibilities.

A touchline or coaching ban appears to be the most likely punishment, and it may range from many matches to several months, with the latter being more troublesome because the 33-year-old would basically have no interaction with the players.

The FA might also impose a fine, which is a genuine possibility given how frequently managers are charged with misbehaviour.

A comprehensive suspension from football would be the worst-case scenario, rendering the German’s position untenable because he would be unable to perform his duties at all.

Although Solak has defended his guy, this could simply be a PR ploy to keep supporters calm ahead of the new campaign, and it will be interesting to watch whether he changes his tune if a punishment is announced.