Thursday 19 May 2016 22:18, UK
FC Twente say they will fight any attempts to relegate them to the second tier of Dutch football in a dispute over financial irregularities.
The country's football association (KNVB) revoked the club's Eredivisie licence on Wednesday for "repeatedly and deliberately misleading" football authorities and other clubs about their finances.
Given the club's efforts to rectify their errors, the KNVB are poised to issue a new licence but only for the Jupiler League.
Twente issued a statement announcing they plan to oppose such moves as they seek to preserve their top-flight status held since 1984.
Club spokesman Jan Schutrups said: "FC Twente cannot bear the financial consequences of this sanction."
A atatement added: "(We have) identified elements enabling (us) to contest the proposed definitive revocation of (our) licence to play in the Eredivisie - and that's what we'll do."
The controversy stems from 2013 when the former FC Twente administration concluded contracts with investment company Doyen Sports. The KNVB said that breached transfer market rules.
In December, Twente were fined 200,000 euros and banned from Europe for three years. They were also docked three points in the league season.
