Dutch football association revokes Vitesse's license; Club expected to appeal

The Dutch football association, the KNVB, has revoked Vitesse’s professional license. The Arnhem club is accused of systematically circumventing and undermining the licensing system over a long period, and according to the licensing committee, it is still doing so. Vitesse was already informed in May about the KNVB licensing committee’s intention to revoke the club’s license.

It is not the first time that the KNVB has taken Vitesse’s license. This also occurred in the spring of 2024, but the club managed to survive by making several promises to the football association. Vitesse had a debt of 19 million euros at the time.

This led to the club attempting to find new owners to ensure that it had a secure future. Recently, a group of regional entrepreneurs, united under the name Sterkhouders, reached an agreement to take over all shares of Vitesse.

This came after unsuccessful takeover attempts by U.S. businessman Coley Parry and Guus Franke. Parry’s takeover was blocked by the KNVB, while Franke pulled out of the deal at the last minute.

Vitesse have had several points deductions due to the incidents in the past. This led to the club being relegated from the top division, the Eredivisie. If the club were to survive, then it would also play in the second division, the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, next season.

The licensing committee said on KNVB’s website that Vitesse made “firm” commitments to comply with the rules, but the committee found that the club continued to circumvent and undermine the licensing system. According to the KNVB, several control measures that were intended to prevent new violations were undone within a single season.

Vitesse are expected to appeal the decision. If the appeal is unsuccessful then the club will not be able to play next season and it will cease to exist.

“The decision spans nearly fifty pages. The club will study it thoroughly and reflect critically on its contents,” Vitesse said in a statement. “It is expected that the club will file an appeal against the decision, just as it did last season, when the licensing committee also revoked the professional license, but that decision was overturned by the licensing appeal committee.”

The club also expressed surprise at the decison. "The licensing committee is disregarding both the central players' council and the central coaches' council, both of which have expressed confidence in Vitesse's future since the intended takeover by the Sterkhouders," the club said.

On Wednesday, Vitesse was informed that it will have to start the new season with a 12 point deduction. The KNVB's licensing appeals committee rejected the Arnhem club’s appeal against the sanction.