Belgian second-division football club KMSK Deinze, the former club of Indonesia international Marselino Ferdinan and Singapore wonderkid Ilhan Fandi, has been declared bankrupt by a Ghent court, following a series of failed takeovers and financial mismanagement.
The club’s financial troubles began after the departure of Singapore-based investment firm ACA Football Partners. Subsequently, Luxembourg’s ADA Group, led by Doudou Cissé, attempted to rescue the club but failed to meet financial commitments, resulting in missed deadlines, points deductions, and a transfer ban.
As a result, creditors initiated legal action, leading to the court’s declaration of bankruptcy. The court’s statement noted that KMSK Deinze had “permanently ceased to pay and that its credit has been damaged.”
In the wake of these developments, several key players, including Tuur Dierckx, Marselino, and Ilhan, have left the club, with Marselino joining Oxford United in the EFL Championship and Ilhan joining older brother Ikhsan at Thai League 1 outfit BG Pathum United.
Dierckx, who is now a free agent, criticized the ease with which individuals could take over clubs without demonstrating adequate capability, stating, “It’s crazy that it’s still possible in Belgium in 2024, to pull the plug on a project in the middle of a season.”
The Belgian second division will now proceed with 15 clubs, nullifying points earned against KMSK Deinze. Additionally, the match between KAS Eupen and KMSK Deinze has been canceled. At the season’s end, only one club will face relegation to the third division, the amateur level.
This situation has prompted broader concerns about the financial stability of Belgian football clubs. Luc Van Thillo, owner and chairman of Lierse, remarked that Deinze’s collapse, as well as the demise of Oostende earlier this year, reflects deeper flaws in the nation’s football pyramid, suggesting that the current financial model may be unsustainable.