As a year ago, the Dutch Traditional Club Vitesse Arnheim was withdrawn from the profile license. At that time the club fought successfully, but now it threatens again. Did Vitesse play his last chance?
The Ultras pyro torches enveloped the training area in Papendal in yellow and black fog at the end of June. But less than two weeks after the official start of preparation, the near future of Vitesse Arnheim is not foreseeable.
The Dutch Football Association KNVB withdrawn the profile license with immediate effect on July 11th. Again!
A year ago, the cup winner from 2017 was threatened with this after a license withdrawal. At that time, the club from the province of Gelderland successfully made an appeal, concluded the season after relegation from the eredivisia and due to points deductions as a cut bottom of the second division.
Vitesse fans wrapped the training area in Pyronicbel at the start of preparation
A sporty descent from the Keuken Kampioen Divisie is not possible except for the young teams. However, due to the licensee, Vitesse threatens the fall into insignificance. The club, for example, the later Bayern star Roy Makaay was trained and in which Phillip Cocu also made a breakthrough as a player in the early 1990s, threatens.
Tough justification for license withdrawal
And the KNVB explained its decision in clear words: “The committee decided to withdraw the license because Vitesse consistently avoided and undermined the licensing system over a longer period of time and continues to do so.”
With the ultimately granted entitlement to the game in the previous year, the club got one last chance from the licensing committee. However, the measures to which the club committed at the time were not implemented or reversed.
“For example, the members of the supervisory board were removed and not replaced in a decisive moment of their offices. The independent foundation founded last year, which should help to minimize sanctions and money laundering risks, could not properly fulfill their work and was dissolved in the middle of the season,” it said in the remarkable KNVB statement.
“Continue for the 133 -year -old club in danger”
The association sees the integrity of the competition endangered. Therefore, there is “no other option” to withdraw the license as Vitesse.
The club was combative and announced in a first statement how to appeal to the previous year. A timely objection must take place within five working days. So the clock ticks. “The decision includes almost fifty pages. The association will check them intensively and also reflect critically,” said Vitesse.
The traditional association gives hope that a regional group of investors called “de Sterkhuders” recently agreed to take over all shares. The problem: The KNVB licensing committee still has to agree to this step. However, as long as Vitesse has no profile license, no decision can be expected in this regard.
“Probability is great that the club will go”
A vicious circle. “And if the association loses the license, the probability is great that the club will go. Then every employee is on the street and the important role that the club plays in the region is also eliminated .
It was only in June that the German coach Rüdiger Rehm, on the recommendation of his trainee colleague Thomas Letsch, who looked after Vitesse from 2020 to 2022 in the Eredivisie, hired in Arnheim.
Rüdiger Rehm is the new head coach of Vitesse Arnheim
He hoped “together with everyone who is very important to Vitesse, step by step to the return of Vitesse,” Rehm announced when he took office.
But the path is an extremely stony regardless of the license problems. Due to the past violations, Vitesse has already been assigned a point deduction of twelve points for the new season.
The name Abramowitsch also appeared in investigations
As early as April 2024, Vitesse had been deducted 18 points due to violations of the license provisions. The club relegated Eredivisie for the first time in 35 years.
The former Chelsea boss Roman Abramowitsch also played a role in the course of the investigation at the time. At the time, the Ministry of Economics and Climate examined the connections between Vitesse and Abramowitsch against the background of the EU sanctions against the Russian. The suspicion of sanction violations and money washing came up.
In the past, fans tried to save their club with fundraisers. At the start of the training, the so -called “gelding wall” with the name of the supporters was unveiled. But Vitesse Arnheim is still facing an uncertain future.
As was the case a year ago, the dutch traditional club vitesse arnhem is Being Striped of Its Professional License. The Club Successfully Defended Itself Then, But Now The End Is Threatening Again. Has Vitesse Missed Its Last Chance?
The Pyro Torches of the Ultras Shrouded the Training Ground in Papendal in Yellow and Black Smoke at the End of June. But Less Than Two Weeks After the Official Start of Preparations, The Near Future of Vitesse Arnhem is uncertain.
The Dutch Football Association KNVB Revoked the Traditional Club’s Professional License with Immediate Effect on July 11. Again!
A Year Ago, The 2017 Cup Winner Was Theatered With The End Afer a License was with At that time, the club from the province of Gelderland Successfully Appealed, finishing the season after relegation from the eredivisie and due to point deductions as the Bottom of the Second Division.
Vitesse fans Shrouded the Training Ground in Pyro Smoke at the Start of Preparations
A Sporting Relegation from the Keuken Kampioen Divisie is not possible except for the youth teams. But Due to the License Withdrawal, Vitesse is threatened with a case into insignificance. The Club, where the Later Bayern Star Roy Makaay was trained and where Phillip Cocu, so made his breakthrough as a player in the early 90s, is threatened with extinction.
Hard-Hitting Justification for License Withdrawal
And the KNVB Justified Its Decision with Clear Words: “The Committee Decided to Withdraw the License Vitesse Has Consistently Circumvented and Undermined the Licensing System Over A Longer Period of Time and Continues To Do So.”
With the permission to play granted last year, the club had receiven “a last chance from the licensing committee.” But the Measures to which the club committed at that time were not implemented or were reversed.
“For example, the members of the supervisory board were removed from their posts at a crucial moment and not replaced., The independent Foundation Established Last Year to Help Minimize Sanctions and Money Laundering Risks was in no way. Season, “The Remarkable KNVB Statement Continued.
“Continued Existence of the 133-Year-Old Club in Danger”
The Association Sees the Integrity of the Competition at Risk. Therefore, there is “no other option” Than to withraw Vitesse’s License.
The club was combative and announced in an initial statement that it would appeal, as it did the previous years. At Appeal Must Be Lodged Within Five Working Days. So The Clock is ticking. “The Decision Covers Almost Fifty Pages. The Club Will Examine It Intensely and So Reflect On It Criticaly,” Vitesse Said.
The traditional club is given hope by the fact that a regional group of investors called “de Sterkhuders” Recently Agreed to take over all the shares. The problem: The Knvb Licensing Committee Must First Approve This Step. But as long as vitesse does not have a professional license, no decision can be expected in this regard.
“There is a high probability that the club will go bankrupt”
A Vicious Circle. “And if the club loses its license, there is a high probability that the club will go bankrupt. Then every employe will be on the street and the importers role that club plays in the region wants. Broadcaster nos .
ONLY in June, the German Coach Rüdiger Rehm was Hired in Arnhem on the Recommendation of his Coaching Colleague Thomas Letsch, Who Coached Vitesse in the eredivisie from 2020 to 2022.
Rüdiger Rehm is the New Head Coach of Vitesse Arnhem
He hopes “To Contribute Step by Step to the Resurgence of Vitesse Together with everyone who cares about Vitesse,” Rehm had announced at his inauguration.
But the Path is extremely Stony, Regardless of the License Problems. Because Due to Past Violations, Vitesse Has Already Been Given a Point Deduction of Twelve Points for the New Season.
The name Abramovich So Appeared in Investigations
Back in April 2024, Vitesse Had Already Been Deducted 18 Points for Violations of the License Regulations. The Club was relegated from the eredivisie for the first time in 35 years.
Former Chelsea Boss Roman Abramovich So Played a Role in the Course of the Investigations at the Time. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Investigated The Connections Between Vitesse and Abramovich Against The Background of EU Sanction Against The Russian. The Suspicion of Sanction Violations and Money Laundering Arose.
In the past, fans have tried to save their club with fundraising campaigns. At the start of training, the so-called “Geldenwand” with the names of the supporters was unveiled. But vitesse arnhem still faces to uncertain future.