Southampton

In a bonus episode of the BBC's Football Daily podcast, John Bennett is joined by BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and 72+ EFL podcast host and former Reading and Watford winger Jobi McAnuff to react to the Spygate verdict.

An FA regulatory commission has handed Southampton boss Tonda Eckert a suspended six-week ban for his involvement in the Spygate scandal, but do the panel think is it a fair outcome?

Blackmore said: "I thought he'd get maybe three to five games per [FA] charge and it would be a difficult decision for the club - do we wait for him to come back, do we move on?

"I think he's lucky, but I am pleased it is all over and it looks like they can move on. I think he's paid a fairly hefty price, even if it hasn't come in the dugout in the next few weeks."

Eckert was fined £28,000 for authorising three instances of spying on opponents before games - including last season's Championship play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough.

Saints were expelled from the play-off final as a result - after beating Boro over two legs - and were also handed a four-point deduction this season.

McAnuff feels Eckert "got off very, very lightly".

He added: "Ultimately he's not going to miss any time on that sideline.

"Southampton fans, players and staff who had no knowledge have been incredibly harshly punished - I think justly.

"I feel, ultimately, one man was responsible for that. I cannot understand how the commission has come to the conclusion that he won't face any time off the touchline.

"It's a real shock and certainly something I didn't see coming. When you step over the line that should have severe repercussions and I don't think we've seen that with the sanctions that have been handed down."

With Middlesborough the club to have uncovered Saints' spying, fan and editor of Fly Me To The Moon fanzine, Robert Nichols, also offers his thoughts on what this decision feels like from a Boro perspective.

Listen to the full episode here.

Nerves are buzzing around Southampton as they await to hear the outcome of boss Tonda Eckert's Spygate hearing amid a looming South Coast derby.

Saints play local rivals Portsmouth on Sunday (12:00 BST) and are already facing injury doubts for striker Cyle Larin and number one keeper Daniel Peretz.

The question on everyone's lips, however, will be whether Eckert will be in the dugout, with a decision on a possible punishment still to be announced.

Though some more hopeful Saints fans feel the FA will show the side some mercy in their timing.

"Surely in the eyes of the FA you cannot get rid of your manager the day before one of our biggest games," Southampton fan Yasmin said.

"It's the timing of it. Of all the games that we don't need this extra pressure, it had to be Pompey.

"You have to ignore all the noise and you have to treat this as a cup final - no matter what, it's this game that matters."

Listen to the full discussion above or listen on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton goalkeeper Daniel Peretz has withdrawn from the Israel national side's Nations League squad following a minor injury.

It is understood the 26-year-old had a tight glute and a slight strain, so has returned to Staplewood for further testing.

The club are hoping Peretz can make a recovery in time for next weekend's south coast derby when Saints host rivals Portsmouth at St Mary's.

He was not included in his country's squad against Kosovo on Thursday and will not feature in their remaining Nations League match against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.

"Thanks everyone for the warm messages," Peretz posted on Instagram.

"Unfortunately, I've had to leave the national team camp early and will miss the game on Sunday.

"I'm going to do everything to come back as soon and as strong as possible."

Peretz joined Saints permanently in the summer following a loan spell from previous club Bayern Munich.

This season he has started in all eight of Southampton's Championship matches as well as their two Carabao Cup games.

Image source, Martin Bazyl / Ontario Premier League.

Southampton's Cyle Larin's success for both club and country have earned him recognition at home in Canada as he was presented with a key to his home city.

The 31-year-old currently tops the Championship scoring charts and has had a fast start to the season for Saints, with seven goals in eight games so far.

Larin is also his country's second-highest goalscorer of all time, netting on 32 occasions across 95 appearances including at this summer's World Cup in Canada.

On Sunday the striker was presented with the key to his home city of Brampton, Ontario, by mayor Patrick Brown, recognising his achievements and contribution to football.

"It is a tremendous honour to receive the key to the city from my hometown," Larin said., external

"Brampton is where my soccer journey began and I'm grateful for the family, coaches, team-mates and community members who supported me along the way.

"To come back home and celebrate this moment with the people of Brampton means a lot to me, and I hope my journey can inspire young players in the city to pursue their goals and believe in what they can achieve."

From betting charges to discrimination to match fixing, BBC Radio Solent's Jono Holmes and Adam Blackmore took a look at other historical FA cases and what they might mean for Southampton boss Tonda Eckert as he awaits his 'Spygate' hearing on Thursday.

One of their avenues of comparison is the case of Marcelo Bielsa, who admitted spying on opponents while Leeds United boss in 2019 but faced no individual punishment - though he did claim he paid the club's £200,000 fine personally.

"I know people instantly say they didn't punish Bielsa, so why should they punish Tonda Eckert?" Blackmore said.

"The only thing that is different is that they have charged him with three breaches of bringing the game into disrepute, unlike Bielsa, and he has accepted the charges. There was no charge on Bielsa.

"If I was his lawyers I'd be making the point that they didn't ban Bielsa. The rules that have changed are EFL rules, not FA rules."

However, a more recent charge came against Canada's women's team after they sent a drone to spy on opponents New Zealand during the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) were handed a £175,720 fine, docked six points in their group and head coach Bev Priestman, plus two other officials, were banned for a year by Fifa as a result.

"If the FA look to Fifa for guidance, then three counts of spying... not going to look great on Tonda," Blackmore said.

Listen to the full discussion above or on BBC Sounds here.