Vitesse Arnhem has been reinstated to the Dutch league after an appeals court overturned the revocation of their professional license. This decision follows investigations into the club’s ties with Roman Abramovich and alleged financial irregularities. The ruling sparked celebrations among supporters, offering the club a chance to rebuild after a turbulent period. While Vitesse still faces challenges in restructuring and securing their financial future, they can now look forward to competing in the second division.
In a dramatic turn of events, Vitesse Arnhem, the Dutch football club steeped in a 133-year history, has been granted a reprieve, overturning a previous decision that threatened to relegate them from professional football. An appeals court ruling has reinstated the club into the Dutch league, sparking celebrations among supporters and offering a lifeline after what seemed like certain doom.
The saga began when the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) initially revoked Vitesse's professional license, citing a "multi-year pattern of deception, circumvention, and undermining of the licensing system, as well as a lack of transparency." This decision was seemingly cemented by a civil court ruling in Utrecht, seemingly consigning Vitesse to the lower rungs of Dutch football. The club had also been docked 18 points during the 2023-24 season, resulting in relegation from the Eredivisie.
However, Vitesse appealed the decision, leading to a hearing at the Arnhem-Leeuwarden court of appeal. Despite experts giving the club a mere 1% chance of success, the court sided with Vitesse, suspending the KNVB’s decision and ordering the immediate reinstatement of the club to professional competitions.
This ruling ignited jubilant scenes in Arnhem, with supporters flocking to the city center and the club’s training ground to celebrate. Susanne Wichhart, chair of the Vitesse supporters’ association, expressed her elation, describing the situation as a “rollercoaster.”
The troubles for Vitesse began to surface following investigations triggered by reports from The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in 2023. Leaked documents suggested that Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea, had secretly bankrolled Vitesse for several years, even while owning the Premier League club. This alleged conflict of interest and lack of transparency raised serious concerns about the club’s financial dealings and ownership structure.
Adding to the turmoil, an attempted takeover by American businessman Coley Parry was blocked by the KNVB, further destabilizing the club. While a local consortium, Sterkhouders, proposed a plan to rescue Vitesse, the KNVB deemed it insufficient to prevent the revocation of the license.
Now, with their place in the second division secured, Vitesse faces the daunting task of rebuilding their squad and regaining their footing. The team is already four games into the season. The logistics of their re-entry into the league remain uncertain, but the club hopes to restart on 12 or 13 September. Many senior players had already departed due to the uncertainty surrounding the club's future. Captain Alexander Büttner, the former Manchester United defender, is committed to the club.
Büttner, reflecting the sentiments of many associated with Vitesse, expressed his relief and determination. "People have worked so hard for this. I’ve seen so much pain in recent weeks. I always said I wasn’t leaving Vitesse. I could have gone to 10 other clubs, which were concrete. But I thought: ‘I’d rather quit football than leave now.’"
In the long term, Vitesse must still address the underlying issues that led to their initial downfall. The club’s restructuring plan needs to be approved by the KNVB, and a sustainable financial agreement must be reached with the governing body. However, for the moment, Vitesse can celebrate their survival and look forward to competing once again. Michel Schaay, the chair of Sterkhouders, emphasized that the ruling provides "breathing room and perspective" for the club.