Former Dutch champion banned from European competition for 3 years

Twente violated licensing regulations and were banned from European competition for three years by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB).

Dutch club Twente are facing a ban from all professional leagues in the Netherlands if their licence is found to be invalid. The authorities will initially suspend the ban and impose a suspended sentence on the eastern Dutch club.

Twente banned from European competition for the next three seasons.

Last month, confidential documents were leaked about Twente’s agreement with a Maltese investment company, Doyen Sports. The agreement allowed investors with €5m (£3.6m) to intervene in the club’s transfer business, which was against international football regulations and the KNVB. As a result, the club’s president, Aldo van der Laan, was forced to resign shortly afterwards.

Furthermore, the contract between the parties was not fully declared to the Dutch licensing board and caused misunderstandings. That is the reason why Twente, despite violating the regulations, still won the right to participate in the Europa League 2014/15. After discussion and consideration, the KNVB decided to impose a three-season ban on Twente from European competition and a fine of 45,250 Euros (32,800 pounds).

Twente "played illegally" in the Europa League last season.

They will now have to cooperate with an independent investigation into the club's structure and the authorities will then study and consider whether to revoke their licence to play in the domestic leagues next season. Twente have accepted the sanctions and will not appeal.

A representative of the 2009/10 Dutch champions told the media: “The motivation of a football club like ours is being severely affected. It is painful for the players, the fans, the sponsors, the staff and everyone behind Twente.”

According to Thethao24h