Southampton manager Tona Eckert praised intel gathered by a junior analyst who infiltrated Oxford’s training before the Boxing Day clash, prompting a "You legend. Manager loved it" message. Eckert maintains he never reviewed the footage and it did not influence the 2‑1 loss. The Arbitration Panel described the scheme as a "contrived and determined" operation.

The club admitted spying on Oxford, Ipswich and Middlesbrough during the 2025/26 campaign. Penalties included expulsion from the play‑offs, reinstating Middlesbrough, and a four‑point deduction for the next season. Interns reported pressure to comply, fearing job loss after a colleague’s dismissal, while senior staff dismissed concerns about the moral implications.

In the Boro incident, the intern filmed from behind a tree, was confronted, and later erased his LinkedIn profile to avoid detection. Eckert labelled the material as low‑quality and useless. Southampton’s statement accepted the breach, blamed poor oversight, and pledged to tighten governance, while questioning the disciplinary panel’s independence.