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.
Lacazette ready to play for Lyon against PSG after face injury
New Penn State coordinators Kotelnicki and Allen encouraged as spirited spring drills wrap up
China injects more positive energy into global economic development
New debt deal reveals US addiction to war
Censors block blogger after caller asks 'Is Xi Jinping a dictator?' — Radio Free Asia
Ruud advances to Barcelona semis after beating Arnaldi in straight sets
Newcastle routs Tottenham at home again as Isak scores twice in 4
Has Salman Rushdie changed after his stabbing? Well, he feels about 25, the author tells AP
Xi'an summit to open new chapter of China