Vitesse’s 40 plus years in the top flight of Dutch football has today come to an end. The side have been deducted a whopping 18 points by the KNVB, meaning that they will be bottom of the table with -1 points. With just four games to go, the side have no chance of making up the deficit. The KNVB, in their statement, have taken the drastic action because the club from Arnhem repeatedly failed to meet the requirements of the licencing regulations over a long period of time.

The side are accused of providing incorrect information that was required for investigations into possible violations of sanctions and withholding information that was also important for the assessment of the continued existence of the club. The club have submitted a restructuring plan to the KNVB, but as of now this has not been accepted and further amendments are required.

The side who finished 10th last season have been plagued all year by issues off the pitch, which hasn’t been helped by poor performances on it. Over their last three games they have shipped 13 goals and scored just one. Their last win was over Excelsior back at the end of February.

As recently as 2017 the side won their first ever Dutch Cup. Now they will be returning to the Dutch second tier for the first time since gaining promotion in 1989. Once a side that benefited from Chelsea’s patronage through loanee’s, the club are hoping that their continued existence can be secured ahead of next year.