// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Eckert free to stay as Southampton boss as Spygate ban suspended
Eckert speaking to BBC Sport in September, days before the hearing took place
Tonda Eckert is free to continue as Southampton manager after being given a suspended ban for his role in the Spygate scandal.
A Football Association (FA) independent regulatory commission handed the German a six-week ban from all football, but suspended it until the end of next season.
Eckert has also been given a £28,000 fine and reprimand but avoided a lengthy ban that could have cost him his job.
The FA had proposed a three-month ban, but the commission gave credit to Eckert for what they called "considerable mitigation in this matter, most particularly around the genuine contrition".
"We hope this now brings a conclusion to a regrettable period of our history, and measures have been put in place to ensure that such errors in judgement never happen again at our club," the club said.
"We want to take this opportunity to thank the supporters for their unconditional backing throughout this process."
Saints owner Dragan Solak said the club had "already suffered enough".
"We appreciate the panel's recognition of that," he said.
"We are confident the manager has learned from this matter, and a suspended sentence allows him to continue in his role.