Frank Lampard insists Leeds United deserve to achieve promotion this season, despite the controversy surrounding ‘spygate’.

The Whites were hit with a £200,000 fine, but avoided a points deduction after admitting to spying on every one of their opponents at their respective training grounds.

The incident was sparked by Derby County calling the police after a person with binoculars – later found to have been a Leeds staff member – was spotted watching Lampard’s side train the day before the two teams met in a Championship clash at Elland Road.

Officers have just attended the Training Ground for @dcfcofficial After a suspicious male was seen at the perimeter fence. Excellent searching conducted & male was located. All checks above board!

Keeping the team safe to bring home a win against #LUFC on 11th! #SpyingIsCheating pic.twitter.com/a12Zj8gISX — Derby Response Unit – Derbyshire Constabulary (@DerbyResponse) January 10, 2019

Leeds were fined and warned to not repeat their behaviour, which breached EFL regulation 3.4 stating clubs must behave in ‘utmost good faith’ towards their fellow clubs.

However, Lampard has been keen to play down the incident and retains full respect for counterpart Marcelo Bielsa.

He said on Drive: “The facts remain the same, we had to stop our training session and Leeds have obviously gone on and said that it happens regularly – which is fair play actually and it’s been dealt with.

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“I’m passionate about the job I am doing and the work here I am doing and so when a day before going into the game, sort of in good faith, trying to work you’re team and we were working on team shape when the police came.

“It happened very quickly – I don’t want to be a cry baby about that moment in itself. Just as a manager, personally I felt that’s something which is a bit sacred.

“Working, in detail, about the game tomorrow and that’s just how I felt.

“I know it got so many legs in the end and it ran away with itself so I tried to sort of step away from it even though I got asked in every press conference. But then it got dealt with.

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“I think it’s something, in my view, which shouldn’t go on again. I think the punishment was more than enough and I was never there asking for points to be taken off Leeds.”

The Chelsea legend may well be chasing promotion to the Premier League with Derby this season, but was gracious enough to admit Leeds deserved to up regardless of their prior indiscretions.

With just ten games remaining of this Championship season, Lampard believes Leeds and Norwich are destined for the automatic promotion spots.

“I think actually Leeds are a fantastic team this year and Bielsa is a fantastic manager,” he added. “And the way it’s going, them and Norwich are the outstanding teams in the league at this minute and the ones that will deserve promotion – ‘spygate’ or no ‘spygate’.

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“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it that it is an absolute game-changer.

“It was just one those of those managerial things – everyone is very intense on their tactics and how they can get a small edge.

“And I just thought it was something that wasn’t quite right in the etiquette of how we work.”