Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been handed a suspended six week suspension following the Football Association's investigation into last season's 'spygate' scandal.
The German came under heavy scrutiny for authorising a junior staff member to spy on numerous opposing teams during the 2025/26 campaign, including play-off semi-final rivals Middlesbrough.
The Saints overcame Boro over the two-legs but were then expelled from the competition after being found guilty of breaking strict EFL rules, with Kim Hellberg's side instead going on to face newly-promoted Hull City in the Wembley showpiece.
The Football League's decision to remove the south coast club from the play-offs also saw them incur a four point deduction for the current campaign.
However, the FA have since conducted their own enquiry into the scandal and have opted against dishing out a short or long-term managerial ban -- one that could have ultimately cost him his job at St. Mary's.
Instead, the independent regulatory commission have handed Eckert a six-week ban from all football, but suspended it until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, as well as a £28,000 fine.
According to the EFL commission, which initially handled the case in May, the club employed "a particularly deplorable approach" by utilising junior members of staff to conduct the spying "at the direction of senior personnel".
And whilst Eckert acknowledged his wrongdoing, he had pleaded for forgiveness, citing the fact that spying on opposition teams is common practise in his homeland.
"I've asked for forgiveness for what I've done. I've apologised publicly," he said last month.
"It's been a big, big punishment. Absolutely unheard of in the history of sports."
The news means Eckert will be free to lead his side into Sunday's live-televised local derby against Portsmouth (12:00 BST).
