Former Dutch Eredivisie club Vitesse Arnhem have officially lost their professional licence after a civil court ruled in favour of the KNVB’s revocation of the licence.
The KNVB provisionally revoked Vitesse’s licence in May after the independent licencing committee ruled that Vitesse “structurally evaded the licencing system” in previous years.
The KNVB’s appeals committee rejected an official request from the Arnhem club on July 31st.
The committee’s report stated that “there has been a pattern of deception, circumvention and undermining of the licensing system over several years, as well as a lack of transparency.
" It ruled the revocation of the club’s licence as justified.
Civil courtIn a last-ditch effort to save the future of the club, Vitesse decided to take the case to civil court, where the judge would decide if the KNVB took a just and conscientious decision by revoking Vitesse’s licence.
During Thursday’s summary proceedings, a judge ruled in favour of the KNVB.
The court case was Vitesse's last try at redemption.
No further appeals can be submitted to the KNVB, and no appeals can be submitted following the court verdict.
Downfall of the clubVitesse, formerly famous for being a partner club of Chelsea, played in the Eredivisie uninterruptedly from 1990 to 2024 and were a steady sub-top side, featuring in the UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League six times between 2012 and 2021.
After Russian club owner Valeri Oyf was compelled to sell the club due to being added to the European sanctions list against Russian oligarchs, Vitesse dropped into a financial spiral.
Proposed takeovers from American Coley Parry and local entrepreneur Guus Franke dropped through after not being supported by the KNVB's licensing committee.
Vitesse fans collected in front of the GelreDome stadium, forming a 'V' in support of the clubVINCENT JANNINK / ANP MAG / ANP via AFPA new ownership group, consisting of Americans Dane Murphy and Flint Reilly, Germans Timo Braasch and Leon Muller, and Italian-American Bryan Mornaghi, took over the club in January 2025, but ran into trouble with the KNVB regarding the completion of the takeover.
The KNVB were unconvinced that Coley Parry, the owner of the Common Group, which possessed previously tried an unsuccessful takeover and was rejected by the licensing commission, possessed been effectively excluded from Vitesse's business affairs and were concerned that the American still gripped influence within the club.
Parry himself reportedly put the five owners together in an try to keep control of the club.
Saviours came too lateA consortium created by local investors revealed a takeover of the club in June.
The group, which called itself the 'Sterkhouders' (translated: strongholders), promised to keep Vitesse's professional license in Arnhem by discussing a future-proof plan with the KNVB.
In their response to Vitesse's request, the KNVB said the efforts of the Sterkhouders came too late for Vitesse.
"Their initiatives are surrounded by uncertainties that cannot be resolved before the start of the 2025/26 season.
Many aspects of their plans still need to be further built and assessed by the licensing committee.
"Vitesse likely to foldWith the permanent revocation of their licence, it is highly anticipated that Vitesse will officially cease to exist.
The club may choose to continue as a newly-established amateur club, but that will also mark the terminate of the 133-year existence of the Netherlands' second-oldest team.
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