This EFL pundit has been left flabbergasted as Tonda Eckert avoided a lengthy Southampton ban.
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The wider footballing world was expecting that Tonda Eckert would receive a lengthy ban as Southampton boss for his involvement in Spygate.
The German admitted that he was responsible for the approval of several training sessions being spied on during the 2025/26 Championship season, and consequently, as a result of a spy in the trees being found at Middlesbrough's training ground, were dumped out of the playoffs in an earth-shuddering move by the EFL.
Also handed a four point deduction to start the new campaign, the assumption was that Eckert was going to find himself in a very hot water, and be given a significant banning order, himself.
But, he has - instead - been sanctioned with a mild six-week suspended ban, which is suspended until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, so he will remain on the sidelines, despite the protests of outside voices demanding for blood.
This outspoken EFL pundit, who faced off against Southampton numerous times during his playing career, was left stunned by the lax verdict, when speaking in the hours after the news broke.
Jobi McAnuff flabbergasted live on air
Jobi McAnuff is an instantly recognisable face if you're a fan of EFL football, with 350 Championship career appearances under his belt, for the likes of Crystal Palace and Watford.
He would only ever score one goal against the Saints from 11 career meetings, though, when he donned Palace colours in 2006.
Twenty years on, he was left stunned on air by the relaxed nature of Eckert's six-month suspended ban, and his £28,000 fine, when speaking on the 72+ programme on BBC Radio Five Live.
"From 16 weeks to absolutely nothing" 👀
🗣️ Jobi McAnuff cannot understand how Tonda Eckert won't miss a game after Southampton admitted cheating.#BBCFootball #Spygate pic.twitter.com/uCOnFM9NL4
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) October 7, 2026
He said, rather matter-of-factly, when quizzed on the bombshell news: "I still feel ultimately, one man was responsible for all that, and that was Tonda Eckert.
"And I think that's why there has been a separate case for him to answer. I just cannot understand how that commission has come to the conclusion that he won't face any time off that touchline.
I feel it's a real shock and certainly something I didn't see coming."
Clearly, the EFL believed that Southampton had been punished enough with their missed chance at Premier League glory last season, alongside the points deduction haunting them.
Eckert has also been apologetic and cooperative, so a line has been drawn under the whole matter, even if McAnuff believes the lack of a touchline ban is a "real shock."
Other EFL figures had also been calling for a severe penalty to come his way, with Neil Harris - the current Cambridge United manager - vocal when speaking on Radio Five Live the other week, right in the midst of the silence when the hearing had taken place.
But, they have decided to go down a more lenient route, as Southampton now look to move on from this saga, once and for all.
Southampton will just move on
The Saints won't be too preoccupied with the ramblings of McAnuff or Harris as they get back to the business on the pitch, knowing the facts in front of them.
Eckert will be on the touchline, despite what many might think of him, and he will be very determined to guide the South Coast giants to a memorable victory over Portsmouth on Sunday, which would be his first in such a hot-headed Derby matchup.
If the wins keep coming, the performances will start to fill column inches, over any lingering talk that Eckert's individual punishment was feeble.
McAnuff is unlikely to be the only notable voice expressing their outrage at the EFL's permissive approach in the coming days, but it will all just be water off a duck's back for a manager who has been supported through hell and back.
- Kelan Sarson
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