THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Vitesse Arnhem lost a last-ditch bid Friday to get back its license to play in the Dutch professional leagues, possibly signalling an end to one of the oldest soccer clubs in the Netherlands.
A Dutch court rejected an injunction request by Vitesse Arnhem that sought to halt a decision by the Netherlands' soccer association in July to withdraw its professional license.
In a statement on its website, the club said it was “deeply disappointed and distressed” by the decision.
“We have done everything we can in the past period to meet the set conditions, in collaboration with the investors and other stakeholders,” said Michel Schaay, chairman of De Sterkhouders, a group of investors that sought to save the club. “The fact that this has been deemed insufficient is pai