UEFA Bans FK Arsenal Tivat for 10 Years Over Match-Fixing Scandal
Synopsis
Montenegrin Football Club FK Arsenal Tivat has been given a 10-year ban from all European competitions by UEFA following a match fixing investigation surrounding their qualify match against Aleshkert in July 2023. In addition…
Montenegrin Football Club FK Arsenal Tivat has been given a 10-year ban from all European competitions by UEFA following a match fixing investigation surrounding their qualify match against Aleshkert in July 2023. In addition to the lengthy suspension, UEFA has also issued a fine of €500,000, one of the largest financial penalties for match fixing in recent years.
Second Leg Collapse Raised Red Flags
The investigation was launched after the club showed a 6-1 defeat at home in the second leg of the qualifier, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Armenia. This drastic turnaround in performance raised a lot of questions, prompting a detailed probe by UEFA’s ethics, control, and disciplinary body. The officials found some violations of Article 11 and Article 12 of UEFA disciplinary, which cover general conduct and match integrity.
As part of the sanctions, multiple individuals connected to the club app, including Defender Nikola Celebic and club official Ranko Krgovic, have received lifetime bans from football-related activities, while other players - Cetko Manojlovic, Dusan Puletic, and Radhule Zivkovic- have been banned for 10 years. UEFA has requested that FIFA apply this sanction around the world.
Fallout Likely to Impact Club’s Future
The second leg collapse raised a number of flags. Arsenal Tivat, not a dominant force, has shown a lot of resilience to hold Aleshkert in the first leg. But at home, their performance was very poor. Captain Cetko Manjolvic, Goalkeeper Dusan Puletic, and Celebic were all involved in the match that would trigger one of UEFA’s toughest disciplinary actions since the ban of Albania’s Skenderbeu in 2016 for the same offences.
One of UEFA’s Harshest Punishments in Recent Years
Beyond supporting damage, the financial blow is also huge. Exclusion from European competition until the 2034-35 season means that the club will miss out on very important revenue streams, including prize money, TV rights, and matchday income. For a club that only narrowly avoided relegation last season, this ban is likely to have long-term consequences on its survival.
The message from UEFA is very clear that any manipulation of match results will be met with the strictest test penalties.
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