Arnhem football club Vitesse have lost their appeal to have their professional licence returned by the Dutch football association KNVB.

The KNVB’s appeal committee has also now ruled against the club, which lost the licence earlier this month following a long dispute over finances and ownership.

“The appeals committee concludes that there is a multi-year pattern of deception, evasion, and undermining of the licensing system, as well as a lack of transparency,” the KNVB said. “In the view of the appeals committee, this pattern has proven to be structural, serious, and persistent.”

Arnhem mayor Achmed Marcouch said the KNVB decision is an “enormous disappointment for the city and all the fans”.

“Vitesse brings us together and creates unity that now threatens to disappear,” he said on social media. He called on all fans to wait for the results of a possible court case “with positive energy”.

Susanne Wichhart, chairwoman of the supporters association, said she had been left speechless. “You feel the ground disappear from under your feet,” she told NPO radio. “I don’t even want to think about becoming an amateur club.”

The KNVB said in a statement that the rules have been put together by clubs together with the KNVB  “to safeguard the integrity and continuity of the professional football competitions”.

“These rules are monitored by the independent licensing committee and the licensing affairs appeals committee. We fully support these bodies, although it is now painfully clear how great the impact can be when a club does not meet the established requirements.”

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.