Southampton say they've been 'punished enough for spygate'

Southampton FC fans are expecting to hear this week what will happen next after their club were accused of cheating at the end of last season.

The team's manager Tonda Eckert is due to find out what will happen after the 'spygate' scandal four months ago.

Southampton were caught spying on another team's training and were kicked out of the Championship playoffs and a possible place in the Premier League.

This week while The Football Association (FA) are expected to announce what further discipline Eckert may receive, but both he and the club's chief executive have told the BBC that they think Southampton FC has been punished enough.

But do you think they are right? Read this, and then let us know in the comments.

It's one of the highest profile scandals in recent English football history.

An investigation began after a Southampton staff member was spotted pointing his mobile phone at a Middlesborough training session two days before a big game against them.

Southampton went on to beat Middlesborough, and were due to play Hull City in the playoff final for a chance to make it to the Premier League.

The match is known as the 'richest game in football' as getting into the Premier League brings in millions of pounds for the clubs involved.

But after Southampton admitted to cheating, the English Football League (EFL) decided that it would be Middlesborough that played against Hull instead.

Hull went on to win and are now playing in the Premier League.

It's estimated that Southampton missed out on at least £200 million as a result of this, and they also had to start this season with a four point penalty.

Without that deduction, they'd be fourth right now, but instead, they're in 13th place.

At the FA hearing this week Southampton manager Tonda Eckert could be suspended from his job, given a big fine or even kicked out of English football all together.

If he is given a ban, it's not clear how long that would be for.

If it's a long ban, it might mean Southampton have to find a new head coach.

Speaking to BBC Sport Eckert was asked if he thought he and the team had been punished enough.

"It's been a big, big punishment," he said. "Absolutely unheard of in the history of sports.

"And it's tough for me to say that because it concerns me. I'm judging on myself, not an outside situation.

"But I've asked for forgiveness for what I've done. I've apologised publicly... the rest is not for me to decide."

Southampton's chief executive Phil Parsons, told BBC Sport any further punishment would be "really tough to take".

He continued: "What we hope as a club is they actually recognise where we are at the moment, and what we've already been through, because I think it has to be taken into account. I really feel like we've taken enough. We've been hurt.

"I think it's one of the largest sanctions ever when it comes to football, or even sporting history."

However lot of people think that Southampton deserve whatever is coming because they broke the rules.

An EFL investigation found that Eckert had orchestrated a "contrived and determined plan" to not just spy on Middlesbrough, but on Oxford United and Ipswich Town too.

It's also argued that the clubs should have known the rules around spying after a previous scandal had led to them being changed.

So, what do you think? Have Southampton FC been punished enough? Or do you think it would be fair for their manager to be banned? Vote below, and let us know why in the comments below.