'The Spygate punishment does not fit the crime'

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.

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.

German football does reportedly have a more open culture around tactical observation and analysis, and there does not appear to be a direct equivalent of the EFL's rule.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert previously worked in youth football with RB Leipzig.

Parsons, who previously worked with Leipzig himself through his language school, said: "In Germany there are no such rules.

"When you're a team of analysts you go to games, you're welcomed by the clubs and can do as much analysis as you want.

"Everybody does it. It's part of being a professional team."

He said German football placed a greater focus on analysis than the British game.

"The Germans love data and facts far more than the British," he said.

But with the impact of the punishment still reverberating through the club, he accepted the team would need to work hard to regain the trust of its fans.

"We're starting four points down, probably with a new manager and a whole new team," he said.

"It's starting from scratch again."