DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

8 August 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

“Devastated” Vitesse loses final appeal to keep prof licence

August 8, 2025
Fans outside the court on Thursday. Photo: Ramon van Flymen

Arnhem football club Vitesse has definitively lost its professional licence after judges in Utrecht rejected a final bid to overturn the Dutch football association KNVB’s decision.

The ruling means the 133-year-old club, the second-oldest professional side in the Netherlands, will disappear from the Dutch first division with immediate effect.

The judge ruled that both the KNVB’s licensing committee and its appeals committee had acted correctly and reasonably in withdrawing the licence. The KNVB said Vitesse had for years evaded and undermined the licensing system, showing “no improvement” despite repeated opportunities, broadcaster NOS reported.

“Vitesse got chance after chance after chance but did not take them,” the KNVB’s lawyer told the court during Thursday’s emergency hearing.

Vitesse had argued it now meets the licensing requirements, pointing to a takeover by local investors operating under the name De Sterkhouders.

But the judge said the case concerned past violations, not the club’s current financial plans. “That Vitesse says it can now meet the requirements does not undo the fact that the rules were breached in the past,” the court said.

The KNVB has described the violations as a “multi-year pattern of deception, evasion, and undermining of the licensing system” that was “structural, serious, and persistent.”

Last year Vitesse were deducted a total of 39 points for breaching their licensing terms and finished bottom of the 20-club first division with five points. Without the penalties they would have ended the season in 14th place.

The decision means Saturday’s scheduled match against Almere City has been cancelled and leaves the first division with 19 clubs.

In a statement, Vitesse said it is “devastated” by the verdict. “What the future brings is unclear,” the statement said. “The club is exploring options and continues to talk to stakeholders to safeguard football in Arnhem.”

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Court cases Football Sport Vitesse Arnhem
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Israel's Gaza plan is "wrong move", says Dutch foreign minister
"Devastated" Vitesse loses final appeal to keep prof licence
Japanese fans drive €10,000 auction for Pieterburen seal tiles
Five Syrians arrested, one in NL, in people smuggling probe
Dig out the sunscreen, the Netherlands is in for a tropical week
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now