The Limburg club announced the news on Tuesday, confirming they will not participate in the European football play-offs despite their current spot in the table being sufficient.
According to Fortuna Sittard, the club could not provide the UEFA with an external accountant’s report on their finances, “among other issues.”
This automatically excludes Fortuna from obtaining a UEFA licence and thus from playing in any European competitions. Fortuna Sittard's last European outings will therefore remain the 1998 Intertoto Cup and 1984/85 Europa Cup II.
Disappointment
General manager Martijn Merks expressed sorrow and disappointment on the club’s website. “We would have liked to cash in on the sporting achievements on the pitch by participating in the play-offs," he said.
”We are fighting until the last day for a place in the top half and will enter the Eredivisie next season for the eighth-straight year. This is the result of hard work and dedication from everyone in the organisation - players, staff, employees, supporters and partners."
Fortuna Sittard currently occupy the ninth spot, which would qualify them for the play-offs for a spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifying draw. Teams placed 5-8 usually qualify for the play-offs, but as seventh-placed Go Ahead Eagles have already clinched a spot in the UEFA Europa League through winning the KNVB Beker, the team in ninth place receive their play-off ticket instead.
In this case, with Fortuna Sittard excluded from the play-offs, tenth-placed Sparta Rotterdam virtually hold the final play-off ticket.
“It is disappointing that we cannot reward a sportingly wonderful season. However, we think it is important to be transparent. We are currently busy preparing for the new season and continuing to future-proof the club. We expect to meet the licence requirements in the new season without any problems."
The regular season of the Eredivisie concludes this weekend, after which the single-legged play-offs will start and end with a final on May 25th.