Southampton's Tonda Eckert authorised 'contrived' Spygate plan, commission says

Birmingham CityBlackburn RoversBristol CityCharlton AthleticCoventry CityDerby CountyHull CityIpswich TownLeicester CityMiddlesbroughMillwallNorwich CityPortsmouthPreston North EndQueens Park RangersSheffield UnitedSheffield WednesdaySouthamptonStoke CitySwansea CityWatfordWest Bromwich AlbionWrexhamScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsSouthampton’s Tonda Eckert authorised ‘contrived’ Spygate plan, commission says Ben Stansall / AFP via Getty Images Share article5Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert authorised a “contrived and determined plan” to spy on opponents in a “deplorable approach” that led to the club’s expulsion from the Championship play-offs. The English Football League (EFL) confirmed Southampton had been thrown out of the play-off final on Tuesday, with a subsequent appeal from the club failing to overturn the decision yesterday. Middlesbrough, beaten over two legs by Southampton in the semi-finals, have been reinstated to face Hull City in Saturday’s final and the EFL has now delivered the details of a ruling that denied Southampton the chance of winning promotion back to the Premier League. A damning assessment of their actions heard that Eckert had personally authorised a spying mission ahead of facing Middlesbrough in the first leg, as well as the earlier mission ahead of meeting Oxford United in December. “We have concluded that there was … a contrived and determined plan from the top down to gain a competitive advantage in competitions of real significance by deliberate attendance at opposition training grounds for the purpose of obtaining tactical and selection information,” the independent disciplinary commission wrote in its assessment published for the first time on Thursday evening. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms