Oxford united FC
Southampton coach charged by FA for Oxford United spygate
The club admitted sending staff to secretly watch Oxford United’s training on 23 and 24 December ahead of their Boxing Day visit to the Kassam Stadium, as well as spying on Ipswich Town in April and Middlesbrough in May 2026.
Tonda Eckert faces three Football Association misconduct breaches (Image: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire)
In a statement confirming three misconduct charges against him, the FA said head coach Tonda Eckert “acted in an improper manner and/or brought the game into disrepute” by directing or authorising the covert observations.
At the time of the Oxford game, United were under caretaker boss Craig Short following Gary Rowett’s sacking on 23 December, with uncertainty over whether Short would abandon the back five that had faltered under his predecessor.
Eckert’s analysts concluded from their illicit footage that Oxford were likely to switch systems but Short’s reshaped back four still inspired a 2-1 win over Southampton on Boxing Day.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert (left) speaks to his players (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Southampton had gone on to beat Middlesbrough over two legs to reach the Championship play-off final, only to be disqualified and handed a four-point deduction for next season once the spying campaign was exposed.
The scandal came at the end of a difficult Championship season for Oxford, who finished 22nd and were relegated back to League One.
Eckert who has publicly apologised for his role in the scandal now has until Tuesday 28 July to respond formally to the FA’s charges.
Oxford united FC
Man charged after breaching football ban at Oxford United game
Thames Valley Police has confirmed that Aiden Murray, 23, of Little Bury, Oxford, has been charged with one count of breaching a Football Banning Order. He has been bailed to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 14 January 2027.
The police force has also confirmed that a 19-year-old man from Wokingham was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after damage was caused to a bus. He has since been released on conditional bail.
A 16-year-old boy from Reading was also arrested on suspicion of a Section 5 Public Order Act offence and failing to provide details under Section 50 of the Police Reform Act. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Thames Valley Police has also confirmed that there were 19 Section 35 dispersals issued in Reading and Oxford, four of which were issued by British Transport Police.
Whilst Section 60AA powers were used to require individuals to remove face coverings. All individuals complied with officers’ requests and, as such, no breaches were recorded.
A Section 35 order gives police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) the power to direct individuals causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to leave a specified area.
A Section 60AA order gives uniformed officers the power to require any person to remove items worn wholly or mainly to conceal their identity, such as face coverings, and to seize any item they reasonably believe is intended for that purpose.
Oxford united FC
Oxford United have three League One fixtures moved
The U’s away match at Wigan Athletic has been delayed by 24 hours and will now be played on January 20, with an 8pm kick-off. It will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
The return Thames Valley Derby against Reading, scheduled for February 6, will start at 12.30pm.
United’s home fixture against Luton Town on February 27 will also be shown on television and will kick off at 12.30pm.
The U’s are third in the League One table and have gone 10 games unbeaten. They beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Broadcast selections for March 5-8, 2027, will be announced by February 5, with weekly announcements then covering four weeks ahead.
Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss lifts lid on Cumming suspension and Helik injury
Cumming was left out of the squad due to suspension as Oxford beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 in League One, whilst Helik was forced off in the second half with an injury.
The win saw Reading-born duo Gatlin O’Donkor and Mo Missanga score at the Kassam Stadium to extend the Yellows’ league unbeaten run to 10 games.
U’s goalkeeper Cumming was not available in midweek after being sent off in the final minutes against Barnsley last weekend.
The club had appealed against the red card, with Ramsey providing an update after the match: “They said the decision was the same as the ref’s decision, and they didn’t want to change it.
“So, look, it is what it is. We have to deal with it.
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“And then, look, it gives opportunity again for Simon Eastwood to come in and have another solid performance with a clean sheet.
“So, we have players who are ready.”
Cumming will see out a three-game suspension, with it understood that he will miss the weekend’s FA Cup clash with Stevenage but will be available in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy against Cheltenham Town.
The United boss also opened up on the injury to Helik, saying: “He had a knock on his knee from the last match [against Barnsley].
Michal Helik heads at goal for Oxford (Image: Darrell Fisher)
“He’s done well to get through the minutes that he did tonight.
“He felt it a little bit, but no risk taken there.
“So, an opportunity now for him to recover a little bit before the league starts up again.
“We’ll assess him. We’ll see how he responds over the next few days.”
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