The Dutch KNVB football association handed Vitesse Arnhem an 18-point penalty on Friday, making relegation a mathematical certainty for the struggling team.
This is the largest penalty of its kind in Dutch football history. But the club said it had no plans to appeal and welcomed the lifeline offered by the KNVB, which would at least allow it to retain its license and continue as a club.
The club has been in turmoil for some time following a failed attempt to break free from Russian ownership following the invasion of Ukraine and EU sanctions against the current owners.
Vitesse were already at the bottom of the league with 17 points, with just a few games remaining. Currently, their nominal total points are -1, and relegation is inevitable.
Why is the club in dire straits?
Vitesse, which has been a mainstay in the Dutch Eredivisie's top division for more than 30 years and has had Russian or Georgian ownership for the past 10 years, has been accused of financial irregularities after an unsuccessful attempt to persuade authorities to approve a takeover by the United States. and is facing charges of license violation. investment group.
The team, which is still owned by Russian oligarch Valery Oif, was once nicknamed “Chelsea B'' due to its close ties to the London club, which was owned by Roman Abramovich. Several prominent Chelsea players, including Nemanja Matic and Mason Mount, have spent periods on loan at Arnhem.
Oyff, like Chelsea's Abramovich, revealed that he was considering selling the club in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He, like Abramovich, will soon be subject to EU sanctions. However, it is not selling at the moment.
Dutch authorities are not convinced of the financial viability of the proposed takeover and have accused Vitesse of submitting false information in an attempt to obtain approval for the ownership change.
British newspaper investigative reporting guardian The Bureau of Investigative Journalism alleges a secret financing network linking the club to Abramovich, eventually suggesting that Abramovich financed the 2014 takeover of Vitesse by Georgian investors, which helped facilitate the investigation. Ta.
KNVB insists penalties reflect 'degree of violation'
“The scale of the sanction is based on the exceptional severity and extent of the violation of the licensing system,” the KNVB said in a statement on Friday..
He said that the concealed information may also include the possibility of a violation of sanctions against Russia.
“This includes providing false information material to forensic investigations into possible violations of sanctions law and withholding material material to assess Vitesse's continuity.” .
The KNVB warned that it would continue to investigate other possible violations by Vitesse and said it would comment further if further penalties were imposed.
The club has announced that it has requested amendments to its plans in response to the club's recent bid to obtain approval for new ownership. He said he would update this issue once a decision is made.
Vitesse plans not to appeal, welcomes glimmer of hope for broader survival
Meanwhile, Vitesse said, “I will not appeal the suspension and will seize the opportunity to retain my license with both hands.''
admitted in a statement Such a sanction had long seemed “inevitable” given the club's failure to meet certain requirements.
“For example, Vitesse did not submit half-yearly figures accurately, acted incorrectly regarding ING Bank and the Ministry of Economy and Climate, and the Vladimirov report failed to prove whether there was a link between Vitesse and Roman Abramovich. '', the club said.
Interim general manager Edwin Reintjes said it was a “dark day” for everyone concerned about Vitesse as they faced their first relegation this century, but “this is the harsh reality”.
“In the meantime, I want to make this very clear to everyone: We are very happy with the opportunity to retain our license. It was a situation,” Reintjes said.
If a club's license is revoked, it will effectively be disbanded, at least temporarily, and will no longer be able to participate in competitions organized by the KNVB.
Friday's penalty, at least as it currently stands, is a foreshadowing that the club will be competing in the Dutch second division next year.
msh/wd (AP, DPA, Reuters)
