Authorities investigating FC Twente dirty deals; Relegation possible

The Tax Authorities' investigative department FIOD launched an investigation into fraud in the transfer of players at FC Twente, a spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor announced on Wednesday, ANP reports.

In the interest of the investigation, no further details were revealed. That includes the names of the players involved.

In November last year documents leaked showing that investment company Doyen influenced the transfer policy and the rights of several FC Twente players. The contracts for these players do not correspond to the information submitted to the KNVB, which forbids investment companies having any influence.

Earlier on Wednesday FC Twente was also told that the KNVB may relegate the club back to the Jupiler League due to financial mismanagement, NU.nl reports. This means that the club will retain its professional football license, but will not be allowed to play in the Eredivisie next season. A final decision on this will be made after the Central Players Council gives its non-binding opinion. The football club will have the option to appeal.

The KNVB believes that the financial mismanagement at the club is sufficient cause to revoke FC Twente's professional license. But the effort the club put in to rectify matters over recent months was enough for the KNVB to give the club a second chance on Dutch professional level.

FC Twente's supporters' clubs is turning to court to fight the relegation. "We demand that FC Twente fights for what it is worth and takes its rights to the only appropriate body in whom it still has confidence: the court", the supporters clubs wrote in a joint statement on Facebook.

The supporters believe that this penalty is harsher than it should be. "The licensing committee of the KNVB for unclear reasons bent the rules to its discretion and came up with a punishment that is disproportionate. The way they came to this stance, moreover, raises many questions", according to the statement. "Our future is uncertain, and that hurts us. We've cleaned up the debris of the past, but perhaps won't get the fair chance to further build a new FC Twente on it."