UEFA Bans Arsenal Tivat for 10 Years Over Match-Fixing Allegations

Eppe Franklyne –

• Montenegrin club Arsenal Tivat banned from European competitions until the 2034–35 season.
• The case involves Europa Conference League qualifiers against Alashkert in July 2023.
• UEFA imposed lifetime bans on sporting director Ranko Krgovic and player Nikola Čelebić.
• Three additional players received 10-year bans; two Serbian club officials and one individual also sanctioned.
• Club fined €500,000; FIFA to be asked to extend sanctions worldwide.

UEFA has banned Montenegrin football club Arsenal Tivat from European competitions for 10 years following a match-fixing investigation linked to their 2023 Europa Conference League qualifiers against Armenian club Alashkert. The team drew 1-1 away but suffered a 6-1 home defeat, conceding twice in stoppage time.

While UEFA did not disclose how the matches were compromised or the specifics of betting irregularities, the governing body found sufficient grounds to sanction the club and individuals involved.

As part of the ruling, Arsenal Tivat was fined €500,000 ($578,000). Sporting director Ranko Krgovic and player Nikola Čelebić received lifetime bans. Players Cetko Manojlovic, Dusan Puletic, and Radule Zivkovic were each banned for 10 years.

UEFA also sanctioned two officials from Serbian club Radnicki Obrenovac—Milan Vignjevic (10-year ban) and Goran Janjusevic (six-year ban)—along with Christos Psomiadis, who was banned for eight years.

UEFA has announced that it will request FIFA to extend these sanctions globally.