Brussels, 06/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 6 March, the European Commission launched a detailed investigation into measures taken by five Dutch cities for professional football clubs to see whether they comply with EU state aid rules. None of the measures, introduced in 2010 and 2011, was notified to the European Commission, which was informed about them by members of the public.
The Commission is investigating financial measures for NEC (Nijmegen), MVV (Maastricht), Willem II (Tilburg), PSV (Eindhoven) and FC Den Bosch (Den Bosch). The Commission says the measures look like they are state aid because they involve the use of public cash and give an advantage to bodies that are economically active. They are also likely to distort competition and affect trade among member states, adds the Commission, but it says that measures taken by the town of Arnhem for its local football club, Vitesse, do not constitute state aid. (OL/transl.fl)