UEFA, European football’s governing body, has suspended Montenegrin club FK Arsenal Tivat for 10 years, along with several of its players and officials, for their role in match-fixing activities.
According to the body, the case is related to a 2023-24 Europa Conference League qualifier against Armenian club Alashkert in June 2023. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, but Arsenal Tivat lost 6-1 at home in the return leg.
According to UEFA, Arsenal Tivat violated Article 11 of its disciplinary regulations, which concerns “general principles of conduct.” The club was also found guilty of violating Article 12, which concerns the integrity of matches and competitions and match-fixing.
However, UEFA did not elaborate on the matter. However, it confirmed a lengthy suspension of the club, suspending it from any UEFA competition for the next 10 years, that is, until the end of the 2033-34 season.
UEFA, which also imposed a €500,000 (US$579,460) fine, requested FIFA, world football’s governing body, to extend the ban worldwide. All orders were issued by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.
Players and managers were also punished for match-fixing.
In addition to penalizing the club, UEFA imposed sanctions on some players and officials who were with the team at the time.
Player Nikola Celebic received the most severe punishment. He, who played over 300 matches throughout his career, was banned from the sport for life. UEFA ordered the same punishment for Ranko Krgovic, who refereed at Arsenal Tivat.
Cetko Manojlovic, the team’s current captain, was banned for 10 years, as was Radule Zivkovic, who currently plays as a defender for Mladost DG in Montenegro. Goalkeeper Dusan Puletic and club director Milan Vignjevic were also banned for 10 years.
Referee Goran Janjusevic was suspended from football for six months, as was Greek player Christos Psomiadis.
In all cases, UEFA requested that FIFA make the sanctions applicable worldwide.