Vitesse Arnhem to compete in the Dutch Second Division after returning the professional status

Vitesse Arnhem has recovered its place in the Second Division in the Netherlands a month after it was kicked out of the professional ranks, after an appeal to a decision by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).

The KNVB had found Vitesse guilty of financial irregularities and repeatedly undermines the club license system.

«The court suspends the decisions of the Licension Committee of the KNVB and the appeals committee to withdraw the professional license of Vitesse and orders the KNVB to immediately recover Vitesse in professional football matches,» the Arnhem-Leuarden Court of Appeal found on Wednesday.

It stated that the decisions of the KNVB «were taken under considerable time pressure and therefore not with the greatest care» and that more due diligence was needed «because this is the most far -reaching sanction for a professional football club».

Various violations of the regulations on which the KNVB has based their decision were also questioned.

Vitesse can return to the second level of the Dutch competition, although four rounds of games have already been played since the season started.

Also read: supporters angry when Vitesse Arnhem loses the last attempt to save professional status

Since last month’s expulsion, various players have moved with free transfers to other clubs, and the management of the club has also been considerably dismantled.

A group of local business people who have looked at to take over the club’s run, however, seems to see the intention that the team is returning to action.

«We continue to work completely for the future of Vitesse. Now we first have to talk to the KNVB to ensure that the right decisions are made by Vitesse and her stakeholders,» said their chairman Michel Schaay.

The professional license of Vitesse was withdrawn in July in the midst of accusations that they had around 14 million euros ($ 16.39 million) in debts. «Vitesse got the chance after the chance, but did not succeed in grabbing. The club showed no improvement,» the KNVB said at the time.

It meant that Vitesse, which was four -time second in the Dutch competition, but never won the championship, were then forced to continue as an amateur club or cease to exist.

The Dutch League has two divisions, but there is no mandatory promotion and relegation between the second layer of the professional competition and the amateur ranks.

Vitesse, founded in 1892 and one of the oldest clubs in the Netherlands, was punished last year and relegated to the Dutch Second Division for financial irregularities.

Published on 03 September 2025