Huge blow for Vitesse as KNVB announce plans to revoke the club's pro license

Vitesse Arnhem may have played their last game as a professional football club. The football club was notified on Friday that the licensing commission of the Dutch Football Association, the KNVB, plans to revoke the club’s license. Vitesse have reported this on their website.

“The club has been invited by the licensing committee to give its views in a hearing. Needless to say, we will be making use of that opportunity,” Vitesse wrote. The document to explain the proposed decision is almost 40 pages long. “It goes without saying that intensive study and critical reflection are necessary before the club can respond substantively.”

Vitesse also reported that the club was shocked that they had to read the news from De Gelderlander before they had received an official letter from the KNVB.

This is not the first time that Vitesse has been close to losing its license. The licensing commission also revoked the club’s license in June of last year, with the club then appealing the decision. The independent licensing review board ruled at the beginning of August that Vitesse met all the requirements to keep their license.

It was only last week that one of the club’s owners, Timo Braasch, had said that he was fully confident that Vitesse would be granted a professional license for next season.

Braasch, who is a shareholder in the club along with four other men, explained that the American investor Coley Parry and his business Common Group had no influence in the club anymore. Parry was blocked by the KNVB from a takeover of the club in 2024.

Vitesse was deducted a total of 39 points this season, which ensured that they finished bottom of the second division, the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. The reason for the points deductions was because it could not meet the requirements of the licensing commission, who suspected Parry of still having an influence at the club despite the failed takeover. It has been reported that Vitesse could be close to bankruptcy without the license.

The municipality of Arnhem was shocked by the KNVB's decision. Alderman for Sport Bob Roelofs said that Vitesse is a part of the city. "Vitesse is inextricably linked to Arnhem. A possible loss of Vitesse as a football club would have a major impact on our residents and our entrepreneurs," he said.