'The Spygate punishment does not fit the crime'
A Southampton supporter in Germany says attitudes to observing rivals are very different.
German-based Southampton fan James Parsons said Germans take a different view on observing opposition teams [James Parsons] A Southampton supporter living in Germany said observing opponents is viewed "completely differently" in German football following the Saints' Spygate scandal. James Parsons, runs a Southampton supporters group in Leipzig, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the fallout after the club was expelled from the Championship play-offs. Southampton admitted filming training sessions involving Middlesbrough, Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the Championship season.
As well as the expulsion, the English Football League (EFL) handed Saints a four-point deduction for next season, with the Football Association (FA) also launching its own investigation. A Southampton analyst was filmed hiding behind a tree while observing a Middlesbrough training session before the clubs' Championship play-off tie [Other] Parsons said he had planned to watch Saturday's play-off final with about 15 fellow Southampton supporters in Germany. "We've been discussing the whole situation and I just feel shocked and saddened," he said.
"I'm annoyed with the EFL. It's way too hard. "The more details that come out, the club didn't act very well.
I'm disappointed they didn't come clean straight away. That's not the values I have. " But despite feeling let down by Saints, Parsons said attitudes towards observing opponents were different in Germany, where he said clubs placed a greater emphasis on analysis and preparation.