Football club FC Twente, which is in severe financial trouble after striking a controversial deal with a private investment company, has been banned from European football for three years by the Dutch FA.

In addition, the club must pay a fine of €45,000 and if it does not cooperate fully with a football association investigation, it will lose its professional licence.

Commentators said the punishment is in line with expectations. ‘It was not going to be possible to withdraw the club’s licence half way through the season,’ RTL news’ Marcel Maijer said.

‘However, given its financial problems, there is only a very small chance Twente will actually qualify for Europe over the next three years,’ he said.

The KNVB is currently investigating the deal signed between FC Twente and investment company Doyen, which led to the resignation of chairman Aldo van der Laan last month.

Last year Doyen agreed to put €5m into the club in return for a percentage of the transfer fee for seven players. However, leaked documents show the deal gives Doyen considerable say over Twente’s transfer policy, which the club has always denied and which is banned by the football association KNVB.