FC Twente banned from European competition over 3rd-party ownership

FC Twente has been banned from European competition for three years due to a 2014 deal with Malta-based firm Doyen Sports Investments.

The Dutch football association, the KNVB, punished the Eredivisie outfit for "deliberately misleading" the body about the deal in which Doyen required between 10 and 50 percent of the transfer fee rights of seven players for €5 million, according to The Associated Press.

The controversial contract came to public attention via Football Leaks, a website which has highlighted numerous questionable business practices within the game, last month, and falls foul of KNVB rules. The case has been referred to the KNVB prosecutor and to FIFA, with the latter outlawing third-party ownership shortly after the Dutch club's deal with Doyen was signed.

FC Twente accepts the charge and was also handed a €49,405 fine. It could have its licence to play next year taken away if it fails to comply with an independent investigation into how the club is run.