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The Dutch football association has banned FC Twente from European competition for three years as punishment for "deliberately misleading" the body about a deal to sell player transfer fee rights to an outside investor. The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) announced the punishment on Tuesday, adding that Twente's professional license will be revoked if they fail to fully cooperate with an independent investigation into the club's structure. The federation says the punishment follows Twente's failure to reveal full details of a third-party ownership contract with Malta-based Doyen Sports Investments. FIFA has banned third-party ownership as a threat to the game's integrity because investors force transfers to make a profit. A KNVB statement read: "FC Twente has some additions in the contract with investment company Doyen Sports suppressed and thereby deliberately misled the licence commission. "That is the verdict of the licence commission in connection with the investigation into the collaboration between Doyen Sports and the club." The statement added: "This is contrary to the licensing regulations. "As a result, the licence of FC Twente is revoked, unless the club co-operate fully with an independent investigation into the current structure of the club. "FC Twente will also not be allowed to take part in European competitions for the next three seasons, and have been fined €45,250." Twente say they will not appeal the sanctions, adding they "hit hard at the heart of our club." Information from The Associated Press and Press Association was used in this report.
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