Montenegrin football club Arsenal Tivat have been handed a 10-year ban from competing in European competitions after being found guilty of match fixing.
UEFA Hand Arsenal Tivat 10-Year Ban
European football governing body UEFA have handed Montenegrin club FK Arsenal Tivat a 10-year ban after they were found guilty of match fixing back in 2023.
They are now unable to compete in any UEFA club competitions for the next 10 years.
It relates to an allegation of match fixing from their UEFA Conference League first qualifying round tie against Armenian outfit FC Alashkert during the 2023/24 campaign.
Arsenal Tivat held Alashkert to a 1-1 draw in the first leg away from home but suffered a surprise 6-1 defeat in the return leg, confirming their elimination from the competition.
In the aftermath of the result, an investigation was conducted into Arsenal Tivat and other individuals in relation to alleged violations of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations.
The club, along with several individuals, were found guilty of breaching regulations.
Their ban will run up to the end of the 2034/35 season. Alongside the ban, they have been issued with a hefty €500,000 (£432,000) fine for breaching Articles 11 and 12.
Additionally, UEFA have requested to FIFA that their ban be extended worldwide.
UEFA Statement: ‘Arsenal Tivat Excluded From UEFA Competitions For 10 Years’
In a statement on their website, UEFA confirmed the decision.
“The charges against FK Arsenal Tivat relate to the general principles of conduct under Article 11 of the UEFA Disciplinary Code and the integrity of matches and competitions (match fixing) under Article 12 of the UEFA Disciplinary Code,” it read.
“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.”
Club Officials and Players Hit With Lengthy Bans
Not only has the club itself been issued with a ban, but so have players and officials.
Nikola Celebic, formerly a Montenegrin youth international, has been hit with a lifetime suspension from all football-related activity due to his involvement in the match-fixing scandal.
Meanwhile, club official Ranko Krgovic has been slapped with a 10-year suspension.
Further decade-long bans have been issued to the following players: Cetko Manojlovic, Radul Zivkovic and Dusan Puletic, along with club official Milan Vignjevic.
Goran Janjusevic and Christos Psomiadis have also been given bans from taking part in any football-related activity for six years and eight years, respectively.
Of course, this isn’t the first serious case of match fixing in football. Last year, former Everton star Li Tie admitted to match-fixing offences and was handed a 20-year prison sentence.
There have been several other cases over the years, with the most notable scandals coming out of Italy, Greece, China, England and Brazil, among many more countries.
