Southampton manager Tonda Eckert is free to continue in his role after receiving a suspended ban for his involvement in the Spygate scandal. An FA independent regulatory commission issued the German a six-week ban from all football, which has been suspended until the end of next season.
Eckert has also been handed a £28,000 fine and a reprimand. The FA charged Eckert with misconduct in July, with a hearing taking place at the end of last month.
Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after admitting to spying on training sessions of Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough. The club also received a four-point deduction for the current season. An English Football League (EFL) commission previously ruled that the espionage was authorised by Eckert and was a "contrived and determined plan from the top down."
The 33-year-old apologised in June, stating he was unaware the practice was banned and that it had no impact on his team's performances. Eckert has been sanctioned for three breaches of FA Rule E3.1. The six-week ban would be triggered if he is found to be involved in any other spying activity between now and the end of next season.