Dutch club in court to claim Chinese owner’s money

THE HAGUE: Dutch first division club ADO Den Haag dragged its Beijing- based owners to court Wednesday in a bid to recoup more than 2.3 million euros ($ 2.4mn) it is claiming in outstanding payments.

In a hearing lasting less than 10 minutes before a Hague district court, ADO’s lawyer Paul Olden told judges the club urgently needed the missing money to balance its books or face possible sanction from Dutch football authorities.

ADO was given “six weeks to balance its budget,” after the Royal Dutch Football Federation ( KNVB) this month placed the club under so- called “Category 1” supervision -- a designation used for financially struggling clubs, Olden said.

“If it doesn’t work out, the KNVB may take further measures -- and that means that ADO may lose its licence,” the lawyer said.

Judgement in the case was set for January 5.

In an increasingly bitter dispute, The Hague- based ADO have slapped Chinese sports events company United Vansen with an urgent summons for the money this month.

It also brought a second case against United Vansen and its owner, wealthy Chinese businessman Wang Hui before the Amsterdam district court’s commercial division.

In that case, judges last week ruled that Wang be temporarily suspended as chairman of the club’s supervisory board and that his controlling shares be transferred to an independent supervisor.

United Vansen in 2014 bought a 99 percent stake in the ailing ADO, with the club hoping the Chinese investment would boost its flagging fortunes on and off the field. — AFP