Trainer Rehm before mammoth task
© Imago
The joy of the traditional Dutch Club Vitesse Arnheim is great: the 2017 cup winner has obtained a suspension of the previously imposed licensed withdrawal by the Dutch Football Association KNVB in the urgent procedure. Vitesse must be approved for professional football immediately, the judgment was on Wednesday. In the city center, fans celebrated the decision that the club must now do the comeback in a few days.
At the beginning of August, a district court initially confirmed the sports judicial decisions against the affected bottom of the table of the past second division season. The club, which was plagued by high millions and unclear financial and owner structures, was sentenced to an 18-point deduction in 2024 for serious violations of the license regulations and relegated the Eredivisie for the first time in 35 years. In the 2nd league, there were other points deductions, which finally resulted in the withdrawal of the license. As a reason, the KNVB cited a multi -year pattern of deception and bypass the rules of the license system as well as a lack of transparency. This behavioral pattern has proven to be structural, serious and persistent.
Now, however, the U -turn: The Court of Appeal considers it likely that the KNVB resolutions cannot be maintained. “This is because they were made under high time pressure and therefore did not come about with the greatest possible care. However, this care was necessary because it is the most extensive sanction for a professional football club. The court is temporarily also of the opinion that the commissions could not have been obviously unconditionally withdrawing the profile license if all interests have been weighed up. This is that the court is Violations of the regulations on which the decisions are based are evaluated differently. ”
The judgment is unprepared for the association, since the KNVB had expected confirmation and previously declared that a return of Vitesse to the Keuken Kampioen Divisie would trigger a “chaos”. “We are surprised by this result,” it said in a statement. “In our opinion, the agreed procedures and regulations were followed correctly and carefully.” The detailed justification of the Court of Appeal will be waited in order to derive the necessary consequences for the licensing procedure.
The club, on the other hand, is faced with the mammoth task of planning for a whole season in a few days. “This judgment gives us relief and perspective. We are very happy that the court recognized the seriousness of the situation and suspended the decisions,” said Michel Schaay, chairman of the shareholder. “Now we first have to have discussions with the KNVB to ensure that Vitesse and his stakeholders make the right decisions.” A new, independent supervisory board will be appointed shortly, and the statutes will also be brought into accordance with the new restructuring plan as soon as possible.
Vitesse is expected to join AZ Alkmaar II on September 12th in the game operation of the 2nd league, which has been running since the beginning of August. Four game days have been completed, the duels of Arnheim were previously canceled. The games against Almere City FC, FC den Bosch, Ado den Haag and de Graafschap Doetinchem have to be made up for during the season.
Vitesse Arnheim has only nine professionals in the squad
For the German coach Rüdiger Rehm, which was only taken in summer, the aim is to quickly put together a competitive team. After the temporary licensing withdrawal, Vitesse is only available to nine professionals, including ex-HSV professional Valon Zumberi (22), Werder-owned Ricardo-Felipe Schwarz (21) and the former Gladbach talent Moustafa Moustafa (21) from Germany. A dozen had left the club after the first court decision.
In addition to their own young players, Vitesse’s view can only go to clubless professionals after the transfer. “Vitesse started testing new players (…) last week so that we can appear representative if we are admitted. This will not be perfect from day one, no,” said Schaay, who also has to take care of the big fan rank on season tickets, tickets and fan articles. The good news: Arnheim cannot descend in terms of sport according to the regulations in the closed system of Dutch professional football.
“Aid offers” are also available from an unexpected place. Ex-Eedivisie professional Willie Overtoom (39), who ended his professional career in 2016, immediately provided himself for a comeback. “If Vitesse is still looking for players, I am available,” Overtoom wrote to X. “I have two artificial hips, but football is still going well.”