UEFA has imposed a hefty suspension on FK Arsenal Tivat, preventing the Montenegro-based team from participating in European competition for ten years.
The charges include to match-fixing, contests, and match integrity, according to The Sun. One player has been banned for life, and they have also been hit with a hefty punishment.
In 2023–2024, Arsenal Tivat participated in the Europa Conference League. But after that, the team and other people were looked into for violating the UEFA disciplinary code during their match against Alaskert FC.
They first drew 1-1 with the Armenian squad away from home. However, the second leg raised questions when they were then crushed 6-1 at home, leading to a 7-2 aggregate loss in July 2023.
“The charges against FK Arsenal Tivat relate to the general principles” is the statement released by the Montenegrin FA.
The Montenegrin Football Association has now stated that Arsenal Tivat will not be allowed to play in any European competitions for ten years. A substantial fine of €500,000 (£432,000) has also been imposed for violating Articles 11 and 12.
A statement clarified:
“The charges against FK Arsenal Tivat pertain to the integrity of games and competitions (match fixing) under Article 12 of the UEFA Disciplinary Code and the general norms of conduct under Article 11 of the same code.
“The decision of the CEDB in the case of FK Arsenal Tivat is a fine of €500,000 and the exclusion of FK Arsenal Tivat from participating in UEFA club competitions for ten years (i.e. up to and including the 2034/35 season) for breaching Articles 11 and 12 of the UEFA Disciplinary Code.”
This punishment is the longest a club has ever gotten, according to SportsBible, since FK Pobena of North Macedonia was banned for eight years in 2009.
Arsenal Tivat’s Nikola Celebic Hit With Lifetime Suspension
Sporting Director Ranko Krgovic also faces a lengthy ban
To make matters more dramatic, UEFA announced that defender Nikola Celebic had been banned for life from any football-related activity for match-fixing. It said:
“Mr. Nikola Celebic is banned from exercising any football-related activity for life, for the violation of Art. 11 and DR.”
Sporting Director Ranko Krgovic is also facing harsh punishment, although a 10-year ban rather than a life sentence.
Six additional people have also received various prohibitions in addition to those two penalties. Official Milan Vignjevic has been given the same penalty, and players Cetko Manojlovic, Radul Zivkovic, and Dusan Puletic will not be allowed to play football for ten years. Christos Psomaidis and Goran Janjusevic will only be prohibited for eight and six years, respectively.
The Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body board is going to ask FIFA to extend all of the bans so they are in effect globally, which might make it worse for Arsenal Tivat as well.
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