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Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem have launched a crowdfunding campaign in an attempt to raise funds to retain their license and stay in the professional leagues.<\/b><\/p>\n
Vitesse will be relegated from the Eredivisie for the first time in 35 years after an 18-point deduction for breaches of their licensing conditions and providing incorrect information to authorities.<\/p>\n
They must prove they have a financially sustainable future to be allowed to play in the second tier next season.<\/p>\n
The funds raised reached 1m euros (\u00a3858,000) on Friday, with current and former players donating as well as fans.<\/p>\n
Lewis Baker and Matt Miazga, who both played at the club on loan from Chelsea, are among those to have given money. <\/p>\n
Striker Wilfried Bony, who joined Swansea from Vitesse in 2013, is another to have donated.<\/p>\n
Vitesse’s squad have made salary sacrifices to help the cause.<\/p>\n
Their captain, another former Chelsea player Marco van Ginkel, said: “It is really bizarre how Vitesse is living at the moment. <\/p>\n
“Donations come in from every nook and cranny. Of course, we as a group cannot lag behind.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n