Twente in tax mire

Unpaid taxes
The judge at a hearing in Almelo said that the Stichting FC Twente '65 company owed the Dutch tax department at least €1.3m in unpaid taxes on player transfers over the period between 1995 and 1999. The tax authorities had taken the club to court after the two parties failed to reach a settlement.

Professional licence
Although FC Twente '65 holds the club's professional licence, the ruling should not prevent the team fulfilling their remaining fixtures in the Dutch First Division. Twente will appeal against the decision, while the contracts of players, coaches and other club employees are held by another company, FC Twente BV.

Financial problems
This body is independent from FC Twente '65 yet is also suffering financial problems, with the club thought to have a total debt of €14m. FC Twente '65 director Freek van Beusekom said: "FC Twente will appeal against today's bankruptcy verdict." Twente also announced that the club would apply for their professional licence next season through FC Twente BV.

In credit
Twente can, at the moment and until the end of the season, pay their employees' wages as the Enschede council, the financing body of the players fund and other parties, have given the club a credit for the months ahead.

Association approval
A spokesman for the Royal Netherlands Football Association said that the bankruptcy proceedings would "for the time being" have no effect on Twente's presence in the Eredivisie: "FC Twente have appealed and as long as that appeal has not been handled [before the end of the season] the licence to play is in the club's hands and the club will not be taken out of the competition." Twente are currently 12th in the league table.