Vitesse can keep its professional football license; Supreme Court rules against KNVB

Vitesse can keep its license to play professional football. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal in cassation filed by the football association KNVB.

With this, the ruling of the Arnhem Court of Appeal from September 2025 remains in effect. That court ruled in an expedited appeal that the KNVB should not have unconditionally revoked the Arnhem club’s professional license. Vitesse had its license reinstated and was able to participate in the Eerste Divisie again.

According to the President of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal exercised “sufficient restraint” in its assessment and Vitesse’s interests outweigh those of the KNVB. “Revoking the license has far-reaching consequences for Vitesse; the sanction is not in reasonable proportion to the accusations against and the violations made by Vitesse,” the Supreme Court said.

The decision is not entirely unexpected. The Advocate General had already concluded in early May that the KNVB’s appeal should be dismissed and Vitesse should be allowed to retain its professional license. The Supreme Court usually adopts the Advocate General’s advice.

The Supreme Court ruling is not the end of the protracted issue surrounding Vitesse’s professional license. A substantive legal proceeding is still ongoing, in which a judge will make a final decision on the license. It is not clear when that procedure will conclude.

The KNVB’s independent licensing committee decided on July 10, 2025, to revoke Vitesse’s license. The club allegedly failed to comply with the financial rules for professional football for years and systematically “circumvented and undermined” the licensing system.

After the Appeals Committee for Licensing Affairs rejected Vitesse’s appeal, the club initiated the substantive legal proceedings. But it also filed an expedited lawsuit to get its license back as quickly as possible. The District Court in Utrecht sided with the KNVB in August 2025. But the Court of Appeal in Arnhem then ruled in Vittesse’s favor. The court saw no systematic pattern of deception by the club and found that Vitesse had been given insufficient time to defend itself.

The KNVB, in turn, did not let it rest there and, after a thorough study of the verdict, decided to appeal to the Supreme Court "in the interest of professional football as a whole." In May of this year, the association did give Vitesse the assurance that the club will be allowed to compete in the Eerste Divisie next season, no matter what happens.

Vitesse is pleased with the Supreme Court’s ruling. “Following the important signal from the Advocate General on May 1, the Supreme Court’s ruling is a nice confirmation,” said chair of the Supervisory Board Claudia Lap on the club’s website. “This ruling brings renewed calm after a turbulent period for the club. It also demonstrates that the course the club has taken is the right one.”

The club is working intensively "behind the scenes" on building the organization's future, Lap said. "In the short term, the club is focusing on assembling a full squad for the upcoming season. Additionally, we are working on financial and organizational stability as a basis for a sustainable future for our club."

She also expressed appreciation for Vitesse’s fans. "The loyal support of our supporters has been invaluable during this period. We would like to thank everyone wholeheartedly for that. We hope to be able to count on the same unconditional support in the coming seasons as well."

The KNVB said it will “carefully study” the Supreme Court’s ruling. "Its content will also be taken into account by the working group currently analyzing and evaluating the professional football licensing system."