Southampton are hoping for a final verdict on the Football Association’s accusation against Tonda Eckert during the September international break.

According to talkSPORT, the club hopes to resolve his protracted problem during the three-week hiatus in the club calendar later this month.

The calendar for 2026/27 has been changed to extend the September break by one week, eliminating one of the later international windows later in the year.

This will allow clubs three weeks between games, giving them plenty of opportunity to make big changes on and off the field, and it could be a perfect moment for some teams to choose a new head coach.

The Saints have made a promising start to the new season, but Eckert’s future remains uncertain after being punished by the FA for his role in the spying controversy.

However, he is still awaiting a final decision on a potential punishment, with the danger of a football ban looming over his head.

Southampton’s Tonda Eckert hopes

Southampton is hoping that the Eckert disaster will be resolved during the international break in September.

The Saints were already kicked out of the playoffs last season, and they began this season with a four-point deduction punishment as a result of the espionage incident.

The Hampshire club was found guilty of violating the EFL’s regulations regarding spying on opposing clubs’ training sessions, but the FA is also looking into the case separately.

Eckert was charged by the FA in July, and a decision on his penalty is due soon.

FIFA imposed a one-year suspension on Bev Priestman for her role in a similar controversy involving the Canada women’s squad at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but it is unclear what punishment the German may face.

Tonda Eckert’s Southampton Future
Dragan Solak, Southampton’s owner, stuck with Eckert in the immediate aftermath of the club’s elimination from the playoffs last season.

And the 33-year-old has presided over the opening of the new season after leading Hampshire to fourth place in the league in 2025/26.

Southampton’s last five league results.

Opponent (Home or away)

Result

Bristol City(H)

4-1 win

Swansea City (Home)

3-1 win

Lincoln City (A

1-1

Birmingham City (A)

1-1

Millwall (H)

5-1 win

The Saints are presently ninth in the league, having won four of their first seven games and drawn twice, for a total of ten points.

Southampton’s next match is at Wrexham on September 19th, with a 3pm kickoff.

Everyone is ready for the Tonda Eckert resolution.

The espionage controversy rocked the Championship at the end of last season, but we are now into the new season, and everyone is eager for a resolution so that we can all go forward.

It was odd that Eckert stayed in command in the immediate aftermath of their expulsion, but it’s clear today that Solak is willing to continue with Eckert indefinitely.

If he is banned from football for an extended period of time, the club would suffer greatly, and a temporary head coach solution will be difficult to manage.

However, at this point, that consequence appears to be a harsh penalty from the FA, which does not have to follow FIFA’s precedent in 2024, especially because Marcelo Bielsa avoided a football ban for a similar event in the Championship in 2019.

Regardless of the outcome, a resolution over the forthcoming international break would be excellent for Southampton because it will be one of the calmer periods of the season.