Vitesse ultimately wins (3-2). But that victory no longer has much value for the club, which was relegated last week when Vitesse had to surrender 18 points because the requirements of the KNVB licensing committee have still not been met. Vitesse management and fans have other concerns. The continued existence of the association, founded in 1892, is in serious danger.
Vitesse is struggling with a debt of 18.9 million euros and must submit a budget before June 15 that the licensing committee approves. A so-called WHOA procedure may give the club the opportunity to reach an arrangement with the creditors. But American businessman Coley Parry wants the 14.6 million euros he invested in Vitesse back.
Insecurity
“Vitesse is still alive,” says fan Dirk as he looks around the Gelredome. About 18,000 fans came to the stadium. Despite all the misery, the hard core of supporters has not lost their sense of humor. “We’re going to Europe,” they sing moments after Paxten Aaronson opens the score.
Many employees live in uncertainty. If Vitesse receives a license again, it will enter the first division with half the current number of employees. Because the club from Arnhem will then have to make millions of euros in cuts. No more Vitesse in Dutch professional football. That is difficult to imagine. Top scorers such as Nikos Machlas, Wilfried Bony, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Dejan Curovic made a name for themselves in the classic yellow-black shirt. Martin Ødegaard, the current star of Arsenal, played for Vitesse five years ago.
Inigo Córdoba and Justin Lonwijk seem to be helping Fortuna Sittard to a victory. But then Marco van Ginkel and Aaronson again score for Vitesse, which climbs from -1 to plus 2 points in the 31st round. “I don’t care how many points we are relegated by,” says supporter Dirk. “I don’t have to win that last home game of this season against Ajax. NEC ends up fifth, which we would rather not have here. No, I do not expect the match against Ajax to be our last game in professional football. Vitesse is really going never lost.”
