Geopolitics comes to Vitesse: how 'Chelsea B' were swallowed by Abramovich associates

Vitesse Arnhem are a cautionary tale. Vitesse, a Dutch club with little history of success, had their identity transformed after a takeover led by the Georgian former footballer Merab Jordania. Allegations of links between Jordania and Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch and former owner of Chelsea Football Club, were always denied. Vitesse, whose highest finish in the Eredivisie was third in 1998, trundled along.