Russian oligarch Oyf sells his shares of Vitesse.
Russian oligarch Valeriy Oyf will sell his shares, or majority of it for the Dutch football club Vitesse Arnhem after the war in Ukraine.
“Valeriy Oyf has decided to sell his shares,” Vitesse said in a statement, adding that the 58-year-old would resign from the club’s supervisory board with immediate effect.
Vitesse, one of the oldest professional clubs in the Netherlands, finished in fourth place last season and currently plays in the Europa League. They lost their first 16-match first leg against AS Roma on Thursday (1-0).
“It hurts a lot to say goodbye to Vitesse, but in the current situation I am making this difficult decision in the interest of the club, the staff, the fans, the sponsors and other parties.”
“I have always felt very involved in the club and I have enjoyed great performances,” said Oyf, adding that Vitesse will remain in his heart.
The Russian oligarch has been under pressure over the conflict in Ukraine, and according to Dutch media, Oyf is close to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of Premier League giants Chelsea, who has been targeted by British sanctions.