🚨 BREAKING: The FA confirm Tonda Eckert has been charged with spying on opponents.
Three breaches relating to games against Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough.
Eckert has seven days to respond but it's understood he is unlikely to contest.
Southampton say they remain "fully supportive" of Eckert.
🗣️ "Southampton Football Club and First Team Head Coach Tonda Eckert acknowledge today’s charges from The FA relating to a breach of Rule E3.1.
"Tonda and the club will continue to cooperate fully and openly with the FA.
"Our focus remains on preparations for the 2026/27 Championship season.
"The club remains fully supportive of Tonda and his staff as we work towards our ambition of returning to the Premier League.
"We are unable to comment further while the process remains ongoing, but we will provide an update to supporters as soon as we are in a position to do so."
The burden Lamine Yamal has carried for club and country since the age of 16 is something Michael Olise has yet to experience, despite being six years older.
Don’t compare any winger to Yamal. If you don’t like him, that’s fine
but right now, no one is close to his elite level of talent.
Let me do a little football argument today, Mr Bayo:
You are free to love Ronaldo, but you cannot make an argument that he is greater than Messi.
What metrics do you want to measure with? Messi beats Ronaldo across the board.
But let’s flip their records. Would Messi still be greater than Cristiano Ronaldo if:
Messi had 35 trophies, while Ronaldo had 46, the highest in the world?
Messi had five Ballon d’Ors, while Ronaldo had eight?
Messi had 8 domestic titles, while Ronaldo had 13+?
Messi had just the Euros and two Nations Leagues, while Ronaldo had a World Cup, two Copas, one Olympic medal, and one Finalissima?
Messi had 2 FIFA The Best awards, while Ronaldo had 3?
Messi had 4 Golden Shoes, while Ronaldo had 6?
Messi had 0 World Cup Golden Balls, while Ronaldo had 2?
Messi had 0 World Cup Golden Boots, while Ronaldo had 1?
Messi had 960+ goals, while Ronaldo had 900+, but also the most assists, dribbles, and chances created, while playing two fewer years than him?
Messi had 5 Champions League titles, while Ronaldo had 4?
Messi had 0 Laureus Sports Awards, while Ronaldo had 1, the only footballer to win it?
I could go on and on. But even in that scenario, Ronaldo fans would still not concede that Messi is better.
But that is the reality we have here.
The whole of football knows Messi is both better and greater.
Ronaldo’s teammates attest to this. Messi’s teammates attest to this.
Top coaches in the world attest to it:
Pep Guardiola
Jürgen Klopp
Arsène Wenger
José Mourinho
Etc.
Legends of football attest to it, and their careers attest to it.
Messi is 39, and he is still playing with the highest creative and playmaking responsibility on the pitch.
Ronaldo shifted from the wings to the box as early as 2015–2018.
Now they are both at the twilight of their careers, and we see one still actively dictating play, while the other has become a shadow of his former self.
Messi is better and greater than Ronaldo in all regards.