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Newly disclosed WhatsApp messages have exposed how Southampton Football Club carried out a covert spying operation against their rivals in the Championship. Junior staff members testified before an independent disciplinary commission, revealing that head coach Tonda Eckert exerted “extreme pressure” on them to complete spying assignments they found morally troubling and were reluctant to perform.
These messages were included in the League Arbitration Panel’s written findings, the body responsible for reviewing Southampton’s appeal following their expulsion from the Championship play-offs and a four-point deduction for the following season. The club had admitted guilt for spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season, as well as Middlesbrough prior to their play-off semi-final. The conduct was described as a “contrived and determined plan from the top down,” with Eckert’s approval central to the scheme.
The WhatsApp exchanges reveal how a junior analyst, sent to observe Oxford United’s training before their December 26 fixture, expressed feeling no real choice in accepting the task, stating, “I didn’t really have an option and wasn’t provided an opportunity to say no. I was an intern and was doing what I was told.” After sending observations to his superior, the analyst received praise: “You legend. Manager loved it.” When asked to undertake another mission spying on Ipswich Town, the intern voiced concerns but was told firmly, “the boss is adamant that someone needs to go.” Following the exposure of the spying, one club analyst lamented in a message, “I said all along I was never happy about it all & it wasn’t right but no one listened to me!”
Further details reveal that the intern was apprehended by Middlesbrough staff while observing their training session ahead of the play-off semi-final in May. Shockingly, the intern learned of Southampton’s spying allegations while returning by train from Middlesbrough. The club subsequently attempted to erase all pictures of the intern from online sources.
An in-depth account of events shows that before facing Oxford, a junior analyst intern was deployed to their training ground over two days after their change in management, in order to identify the formation they planned to use under caretaker Craig Short. The intern submitted updates, photos, and videos to Southampton’s coaching team, correctly predicting Oxford’s lineup as a back four rather than a back five. Eckert reportedly denied ever viewing the footage and insisted no advantage was gained, yet a message from an analyst to the intern read, “Try and make out as much as you can please. You legend. Manager loved it.”
In preparation for the match against Ipswich Town at Eastleigh Football Club, Eckert insisted that “someone should go to Eastleigh to look at Ipswich.” Although the junior analyst intern declined this request, citing discomfort, another analyst under pressure volunteered to travel with Eastleigh gear as cover. This analyst recorded Ipswich’s session on video, enabling Southampton to predict the team lineup for the match. Eckert later claimed that the club received CCTV footage of the training session only shortly before kick-off.
Before the critical play-off semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough on May 9, Eckert was keen to ascertain the fitness status of midfielder Hayden Hackney. Despite the intern’s earlier refusal to spy on Ipswich’s training, he was again chosen to conduct surveillance at Middlesbrough’s ground. The intern admitted feeling “extreme pressure” due to the game’s importance and concerns about potential dismissal or career repercussions if he refused. Southampton arranged his travel and accommodation and provided drone footage of Middlesbrough’s facilities to guide him.
While filming from behind a tree, the intern recorded three videos of Middlesbrough’s training sessions. When confronted by four staff members from Middlesbrough, he deleted the footage as requested. He also removed his LinkedIn profile to avoid being identified. After leaving the training ground and waiting for permission to return home, the intern discovered via online news that Southampton had been exposed for spying. Concerned about the intern’s presence in club photos, an analyst suggested Southampton’s media team should remove images featuring him to avoid identification.
The League Arbitration Panel sharply criticized Southampton not only for the spying but also for initially providing misleading information. On May 8, the club admitted a junior staff member had been at Middles
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