Dutch team Vitesse Arnhem received an 18-point deduction due to licensing issues on Friday and will be relegated from the Eredivisie.
The KNVB, Dutch football’s governing body, imposed the deduction after investigators found that the club persistently failed to comply with the requirements of licensing regulations over a prolonged period.
Furthermore, according to The Guardianthe licensing committee concluded that there were “indications” that former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had controlled, or still controlled, Vitesse.
In 2022, Abramovich was disqualified from managing the Premier League club by its board of directors after the European Union imposed sanctions over his role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The KNVB is therefore now aware of the “risks” that sanctions have been violated, and continues to investigate any links between Vitesse and Abramovich.
Dutch side Vitesse received an 18-point deduction on Friday due to license issues.
The licensing committee concluded there were “indications” that former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (pictured) had controlled, or still controlled, Eredivisie side Vitesse.
The businessman was also punished in the United Kingdom and had his assets frozen in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich was also forced to sell London football club Chelsea after being sanctioned by the UK government for what he called his enabling of Vladimir Putin’s “brutal and barbaric invasion” of Ukraine.
Vitesse and its Russian owners have had long-standing links with Chelsea, which Abramovich owned for almost 20 years.
The Dutch team was already at risk of relegation after an unimpressive season, but it has now been confirmed that they will be relegated following the deduction of points.
As a result of the sanction, Vitesse’s points total has dropped to -1, condemning them to their first year in the Dutch second division after 35 years.
Vitesse said they would not appeal because it could jeopardize their current license.
“Although this is a dark day for everything and everyone who cares about Vitesse, this is the harsh reality,” said acting CEO Edwin Reijntjes.
Last year, Abramovich lost his legal bid to overturn sanctions imposed by the European Union.
Vitesse have condemned them to their first year in the Dutch second division in 35 years
‘On the other hand, and I want to make it clear to everyone, we are very happy with the opportunity offered to us to retain our license. “This was also hanging by a thread.”
Meanwhile, the KNVB explained: ‘The amount of the penalty is based on the exceptional severity and scope of the violations of the licensing system.
“This includes providing incorrect information that was important for the forensic investigation into possible violations of sanctions legislation and withholding information important for the assessment of Vitesse’s continuity.”
Vitesse were promoted to the Eredivisie in 1989, but never won the league title. Their only major trophy came in 2017, when they lifted the Dutch Cup.
The EU sanctions against Abramovich were announced after an investigation revealed evidence of alleged corrupt deals that made the businessman a fortune.
According to the BBC in 2022, Abramovich made billions after buying an oil company from the Russian government in a rigged auction in 1995.
Abramovich was forced to sell the Chelsea football club after being sanctioned by the government
The broadcaster said it paid around £196m for Sibneft, before selling it back to the Russian government for £10.2bn in 2005.
A separate investigation in 2023 also found that Abramovich transferred a secret stake in a Russian media giant to two of Vladimir Putin’s close friends.
This was according to leaked documents seen by investigative journalists.
The report, based on leaked documents, claims the £26m deal in 2010 is the “clearest paper trail yet” financially linking Abramovich, 57, and the Russian president.