Keith Wyness, the former CEO of Aston Villa and Everton, has indicated that the next match between Southampton and Portsmouth could influence the Football Association’s judgement on Tonda Eckert.
The German faces a hearing later this week to conclude the FA’s probe into the eavesdropping controversy.
The 33-year-old is facing a football ban after being charged earlier this year for his involvement in the incident.
The Saints were kicked out of the play-offs and given a four-point deduction for this season after being found guilty of breaking the EFL’s regulations on spying on opposing clubs.
Hampshire admits to spying on three teams, including play-off semi-finalists Middlesbrough.
Marcelo Bielsa was previously in charge of Leeds United when they were caught spying on Derby County’s training session, although he was not barred from football for his involvement in the incident.
Keith Wyness notes the Portsmouth issue in Tonda Eckert’s case.
Wyness believes Southampton have already suffered enough punishment, and that the FA will be lenient with Eckert, with a touchline ban the most likely conclusion at this point.
The player has stated that he will miss the forthcoming game against Portsmouth, which he believes will generate enough attention for the FA already.”I believe he will receive a two- to four-game suspension and a fine,” Wyness told Football Insider.
“I believe the fine will be mitigated by the fact that he was aware of it and, to some extent, directed it.
“I think this will come out on the lenient side of the number of games.”I believe the FA will rely on the fact that they have Portsmouth coming up, which is, of course, the huge local rivalry on the South Coast.
“So the FA might think, well, hang on, we’re penalising Southampton for a big derby game and that will get a headline for us as well.”I’m strongly in the camp that believes the club has already received too many penalties. It was a massive penalty.
“One of the largest penalties I’ve seen in modern sport, let alone football.
“I believe that if it is two to four games, everyone can deal with it.
“He will not lose his job; things will continue, and I want this swept under the rug once and for all.”
“Let’s move on.”
Leeds were fined £200,000 for the incident with the Rams in 2019, and the clubs met in the playoffs later that season.
However, Bev Priestman was banned from football for one year by FIFA following a spying incident between Canada and New Zealand at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
It is unclear whether Eckert will be banned from football or given a touchline ban, but the conclusion should be resolved during the international break.
Southampton’s start to the season
Southampton began the season at the bottom of the table with minus four points, but have risen to 13th place after eight games.
The Saints have 10 points, having won four, drawn two, and lost two, leaving them seven points behind leaders Swansea City.
Southampton’s last five league results.
Opponent (Home or away)
Result
Wrexham (A)
2-1 loss
Bristol City(H)
4-1 win
Swansea City (Home)
3-1 win
Lincoln City (A
1-1
Birmingham City (A)
1-1
Eckert managed the team’s climb from the Championship’s bottom half to fourth place in 2025/26, but the spying incident resulted in their elimination from the playoffs.
Southampton’s next game is a south coast derby against Portsmouth, which kicks off at 12pm on October 11.
A touchline ban would be a fair conclusion for Tonda Eckert.
A ban from football would be a harsh punishment for the FA to impose on Eckert, especially given the severity of the club’s previous sentence.
Southampton and Middlesbrough have mostly moved on from the event, and everyone is ready to put it behind them.
A touchline punishment ranging from two to six games would be a reasonable decision, since it would demonstrate that the FA takes issue seriously, but that the EFL handled with the situation appropriately in the summer.
It would also be a significant shift in Southampton’s season to have to replace Eckert if he is banned, adding to the club’s punishment.
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