Revealed: Roman Abramovich’s alleged role in Dutch side Vitesse being given 18-point deduction and RELEGATED from the Eredivisie after investigation into financial irregularities

The Dutch Vitesse Arnhem was deducted 18 points on Friday due to license problems and is relegated from the Eredivisie.

The KNVB, the governing body of Dutch football, imposed the deduction after an investigation revealed that the club had consistently failed to meet the requirements of licensing regulations for an extended period of time.

Further according The guardthe licensing committee concluded that there were ‘indications’ that former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich controlled – or still controlled – Vitesse.

In 2022, Abramovich was disqualified from managing the Premier League club by the board after the European Union imposed sanctions over his role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As a result, the KNVB is now aware of the ‘risks’ that sanctions have been violated, while it continues to investigate possible links between Vitesse and Abramovich.

The licensing board concluded there was ‘indications’ that former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (pictured) had controlled – or was still controlling – Eredivisie side Vitesse.

The businessman was also punished in Britain and had his assets frozen in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich was also forced to sell London football club Chelsea after being sanctioned by the British government for what it called enabling Vladimir Putin’s “brutal and barbaric invasion” of Ukraine.

Vitesse and their Russian owners have long-standing ties with Chelsea, which Abramovich owned for almost two decades.

The Dutch side were already at risk of relegation after a less than impressive season, but it has now been confirmed that they will be relegated following the points deduction.

As a result of the sanction, Vitesse’s points total has now dropped to -1, condemning them to their first year in the Dutch second division in 35 years.

Vitesse said they would not appeal as this 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 interim general manager Edwin Reijntjes.

Last year, Abramovich lost his legal bid to overturn sanctions imposed by the European Union

Vitesse have sentenced them to their first year in the Dutch second division in 35 years

‘On the other hand, and I would really like to make this clear to everyone, we are extremely happy with the opportunity given to us to retain our license. This was also hanging by a thread.’

In the meantime, the KNVB explains: ‘The amount of the sanction is based on the exceptional seriousness and extent 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 that is important for the assessment of the continuity of Vitesse.’

Vitesse were promoted to the Eredivisie in 1989, but never won the national title. Their only major trophy came in 2017, when they won the Dutch Cup.

The EU sanctions against Abramovich were announced after investigations revealed evidence of alleged corrupt deals that helped the businessman make his fortune.

According to the BBC, Abramovich will make billions in 2022 after buying an oil company from the Russian government in a rigged auction in 1995.

Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea football club after being sanctioned by the government

The broadcaster said it paid around £196m for Sibneft before selling it to the Russian government for £10.2bn in 2005.

A separate 2023 investigation also found that Abramovich had transferred a secret stake in a Russian media giant to two close friends of Vladimir Putin.

This is evident from leaked documents that investigative journalists have seen.

The report, based on leaked documents, said the £26 million 2010 deal is the “clearest paper trail yet” financially linking Abramovich, 57, and the Russian president.