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Twente win appeal to stay in Eredivisie, avoid relegation over finances

FC Twente will play in the Dutch top-flight Eredivisie next season after all, following a successful appeal against a decision to relegate the club as punishment for financial irregularities.

An independent appeals panel on Friday reversed the decision taken last month by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) licensing commission to relegate the 2010 Eredivisie champions.

Instead, Twente have been fined €180,000.

In a statement, the team said it welcomes the decision and hopes it can "draw a line under the past and move forward together with the KNVB and other clubs."

Twente's successful appeal means that De Graafschap, who would have stayed up had Twente gone down, will be relegated to the second-tier Eerste Divisie next season.