Our old friends in the Netherlands are no longer gonna exist.

Vitesse loses preliminary injunction: second oldest professional club in the Netherlands disappears from professional football

Vitesse has definitively lost its professional license. A preliminary injunction in the court in Utrecht has not changed this. As a result, the second oldest professional club in the Netherlands will disappear from professional football.

The judge ruled that the licensing committee and the KNVB had followed the rules correctly and that the decision had been taken in all reasonableness.

The professional license is being revoked because the KNVB believes that the Arnhem club has circumvented and undermined the licensing system for years. “Vitesse was given chance after chance, but failed to seize them. The club showed no signs of improvement,” said the KNVB's lawyer in court yesterday.

Vitesse wanted to convince the judge that the club has its affairs in order for the future. Arnhem investors, gathered under the name De Sterkhouders, have taken over all shares from the current owners. This only had to be approved by the licensing committee.

The judge said: "The fact that Vitesse claims to be able to meet the conditions for a professional license at this moment does not alter the fact that the rules of the licensing regulations have been violated in the past. The judge looked at the dispute that was brought before him. That dispute concerns the violations that were committed in the past. Based on those violations, the KNVB licensing committee decided to revoke the professional license, and the judge ruled that the KNVB was entitled to make that decision." End of 133 years of Vitesse

However, the judge did not agree. This brings an end to professional football at the 133-year-old club in Arnhem. The match against Almere City, which was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, has been canceled.

“What the future holds for Vitesse is still unclear at this point,” Vitesse said in a statement. “The club is exploring its options. In the meantime, management is continuing to talk with stakeholders to make sure soccer stays alive in Arnhem.”

Very bad news. The club has done a wonderful job in remembering the veterans of the Airborne Forces who partook in Operation Market Garden.

Some good news about Vitesse Arnhem. Still a long way to go. Hopefully the fans and club will be able to pay tribute to the Airborne Forces veterans.

https://www.vitesse.nl/nieuws/2025/vitesse-wint-turbo-spoedappel-gerechtshof-schorst-intrekking-li

Arnhem, September 3, 2025 – Vitesse has won its appeal against the summary judgment against the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association): the decisions of the licensing committee and appeals committee to revoke the license are suspended until a final judgment is reached.

The Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal ruled that the revocation of Vitesse's license is suspended and that Vitesse and the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) must admit Vitesse to professional football. This suspension means the club can start the 2025/2026 season in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.

The club has been working intensively on recovery and future sustainability in recent months. A new, independent supervisory board will be appointed as soon as possible, and Vitesse intends to amend its articles of association as soon as possible in line with the new restructuring plan. Efforts will also be made to complete the investigation into its intended shareholders by an external party, Compliability, as soon as possible.

Michel Schaay, Chairman of Sterkhouders, responded: “This ruling gives us relief and perspective. We are thrilled that the Court recognizes the seriousness of the situation and has suspended the decisions. We remain fully committed to Vitesse's future. Now, we must first engage in discussions with the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) to ensure that the right decisions are made by Vitesse and its stakeholders.”

Vitesse will now attempt to enter into consultations with the KNVB in the short term regarding the further consequences of this ruling.

Vitesse thanks all supporters, partners, and stakeholders for their unconditional support. This decision is a collective step forward, but the journey toward the future is not yet over.