August 5 – The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has finalised a decision to revoke Vitesse Arnhem’s professional licence, bringing an end to the club’s presence in the elite game.
The KNVB’s decision is the culmination of the club’s continued decline and persistent financial and administrative chaos, prompted by the departure of Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich in 2022.
Last month, the licensing committee withdrew Vitesse’s professional licence because the club had “structurally, and over extended periods, circumvented and undermined the licensing system, despite earlier assurances that this would no longer happen.”
Vitesse challenged the decision, but the appeals committee rejected their plea. A statement said: “Vitesse, even after the licensing committee’s decision to revoke the licence, has not demonstrated the necessary understanding of the scope of its obligations to provide and report information.
“This is despite previous requests for information from the licensing committee and Vitesse’s repeatedly stated promise to provide open, transparent, and immediate information to the licensing committee.
“The appeals committee concludes that there is a multi-year pattern of deception, circumvention, and undermining of the licensing system, as well as a lack of transparency. In the opinion of the appeals committee, this pattern has proven to be structural, serious, and persistent. The appeals committee therefore finds that the revocation of the licence is justified.”
However, the club can go one step further and appeal the decision in court. In a Vitesse said they were “devastated by the outcome”, insisting “the club has been working intensively on recovery, transparency and future sustainability.”
Arnhem mayor Ahmed Marcouch voiced his disappointment: “That Vitesse is no longer being admitted to professional football, after 133 years, is truly unimaginable.
“I’ve said before that Vitesse, as the second-oldest club in professional football, is much more than just a stadium or a budget on paper. It’s a way of life for many people in Arnhem. The club brings unity and connection. That now threatens to disappear in an instant, and that’s a huge blow.”
At the end of the 2023/24 season, the KNVB docked Vitesse 18 points, citing repeated violations of licensing regulations, misinformation and suspected links to Roman Abramovich’s funding. As a result, Vitesse were relegated from the Eredivisie after 35 seasons in the top-flight. The club didn’t appeal the decision, competing in the second-tier Eerste Divisie last season and finishing bottom following further points deductions.
Former Chelsea owner Abramovich also owned Vitesse from 2003 until 2022 before leaving in connection to the Russian war on Ukraine. Since then the club has struggled to find funding, with US businessman Coley Parry having attempted to take over the club, only for the KNVB licensing committee to rule his Common Group had no capital.
Contact the writer of this story Samindra Kunti at moc.l1754402375labto1754402375ofdlr1754402375owedi1754402375sni@o1754402375fni1754402375