UEFA has officially announced severe sanctions against Montenegrin club FK Arsenal Tivat and several individuals involved in a match-fixing scandal, two years after a suspicious UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match against Alashkert FC. The Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) imposed a €500,000 fine on FK Arsenal Tivat and banned the club from all UEFA competitions for a decade, extending until the 2034/35 season.
The harshest penalties were reserved for player Nikola Cilebić and club representative Ranko Krgović, who received lifetime bans from all football-related activities for violating UEFA's disciplinary regulations Article 11 (general conduct) and Article 12 (match integrity and manipulation). Captain Cetko Manojlović, footballer Radule Živković, and Dušan Pletić were each handed 10-year bans, while Goran Janjušević faces a 6-year ban and Christos Psomiadis an 8-year ban.
At UEFA's request, these sanctions will be extended globally via FIFA, meaning the banned individuals will be unable to participate in football activities across any continent. The match between Alashkert and Arsenal Tivat in July 2023 raised red flags due to irregularities and significant odds fluctuations, prompting a broad UEFA investigation that has now concluded with definitive action.
FK Arsenal Tivat, based in Tivat, Montenegro, was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Montenegrin First League. The club's involvement in the scandal highlights UEFA's ongoing efforts to combat corruption and safeguard the integrity of the sport.
