Dutch soccer club Vitesse docked points and relegated during probe of Russian ties to Abramovich
ARNHEM, Netherlands (AP) — Soccer club Vitesse Arnhem was docked 18 points on Friday and will be relegated from the Netherlands top division while under investigation for ties to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea.
Vitesse said in a statement it will not appeal the punishment imposed by a licensing panel at the Dutch soccer federation. It dropped the team into the second tier for the first time in 35 years.
Vitesse already was in danger of relegation before its points total was cut to -1 in a distant last place in the Eredivisie standings.
The Dutch federation said Vitesse “repeatedly failed” to meet the demands of its financial license.
Vitesse and its Russian owners had longstanding ties to Chelsea which Abramovich owned for nearly 20 years. The British government forced a sale of Chelsea after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Related articles
Amtrak train hits pickup truck in upstate New York, 3 dead including child
NEW YORK (AP) — A child was among the three victims killed when a passenger train hit a pickup truck2024-05-21'Forget the Algarve!' Travel experts reveal breathtaking lesser
Looking to escape the madding crowds and find a quieter, more relaxing - and more photogenic - UK be2024-05-21- At first, there’s just a fleeting glimpse as one breaks cover.Moments later, it’s a whole family. An2024-05-21
With table service and spacious seats, why going by train with LNER is the ultimate way to travel
Out go traffic jams, stops for loo breaks and endless hours behind the wheel; in comes faster journe2024-05-21Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce was spotted taking a whiskey shot from a slice of bread in true southern fashion as he2024-05-21- Britons hoping for a last-minute flight to go on a European holiday this Easter can still catch a gr2024-05-21
atest comment