Southampton manager Tonda Eckert could have spied on France and Hamburg in the past

Southampton's appeal against their exclusion from the Championship play-off final due to espionage was denied this week, delivering a crushing blow to the Saints.

The club acknowledged three separate incidents of monitoring rival training sessions: against Oxford United in December, Ipswich Town in April, and Middlesbrough prior to the play-off semi-final first leg.

Sources indicate that Eckert, a manager with possible prior involvement in such strategies, issued the directives for spying. A tweet surfaced linking the German to several past espionage allegations.

In 2014, Didier Deschamps, then manager of France, filed a formal complaint with FIFA regarding a drone that disrupted training. Hugo Lloris, the French captain at the time, described it as a 'small helicopter' observing their session.

"It's quite the gadget for journalists! We heard it before spotting it. No operator was visible, perhaps concealed behind the stands. Its presence was brief. Attempting to disrupt it would have been futile, save for perhaps striking it with a ball, though hitting such a target would be no easy feat.

Notably, Eckert served as Germany's opposition analyst during that World Cup, fueling speculation that he may have orchestrated the incident.

A year later, ESPN revealed that FC Cologne dispatched a scout to observe Hamburg's training before their match. The scout was initially noted for taking detailed observations before blending in with the press corps.

Southampton, now ousted from the Championship play-offs, face a four-point deduction for the 2026-27 season. While it remains unclear if this was Eckert's strategic doing, evidence suggests a prolonged use of such tactics.