Soccer. In the Netherlands, Vitesse Arnhem is relegated after an 18-point penalty

Vitesse Arnhem will be relegated to the Dutch second division at the end of the season after receiving an 18-point charge for breaching licensing requirements, according to the Dutch Football Association. The club, which announced it will not contest this sanction, has played for 35 years in the Eredivisie, the Dutch D1, regularly qualifying for European cups.

“A Dark Day”

“It’s a dark day, but that’s the harsh reality”declared Edwin Reijntjes, interim director of the Dutch club, which for now retains its license and will therefore still be able to play at professional level next season.

“Such a sanction was inevitable, but we are very pleased with the opportunity we were given to retain our licence. The club wants to focus on maintaining the licence. An appeals process will not help.”indicated the Dutch club.

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Red light with 17 points from 30 games, Vitesse are now in the red (-1 point) with four games left in the championship and therefore no longer have the mathematical possibility of remaining in D1. In February last year, the Licensing Commission opposed the American investor group Common Group’s takeover of Vitesse and fined the club €100,000.