Sport: Soccer Country: Germany Category: Transactions

Southampton's Eckert claims spying is common in German football

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 3, 2026, 2:10 PM

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

Southampton's Eckert claims spying is common in German football

Summary

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has reiterated his assertion that spying on training sessions is a common practice in Germany. His comments followed an apology to fans regarding the club's involvement in a Spygate incident, which resulted in the English Football League excluding Southampton from the recent Championship play-offs. Eckert acknowledged his ignorance of EFL regulations and now faces an investigation by the Football Association. Contextually, spying in German football includes open training sessions and historical examples of less severe reactions compared to England, where such practices have led to greater controversy.

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Key Details

•Eckert stated spying practices differ significantly between Germany and England.
•He faces an FA investigation for his role in Southampton's Spygate scandal.
•German clubs often hold open training sessions accessible to the public.
•Eckert referenced Pep Guardiola's experiences with spying at Bayern Munich.
•Historical reactions to spying in Germany are generally more lenient than in England.

Latest Updates

2:11 PMYahoo Sports — Is spying as common in Germany as Southampton boss Eckert claims?
2:10 PMBBC Sport — Is spying as common in Germany as Southampton boss Eckert claims?

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