On July 16, 2025, UEFA announced a 10-year ban on Montenegrin club FK Arsenal Tivat from all its competitions, following their conviction for match-fixing in a UEFA Conference League qualifying match against Alashkert FC in July 2023. The decision, detailed on UEFA’s official website, was the outcome of an extensive investigation by UEFA’s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body (CEDB).
The match-fixing incident occurred during Arsenal Tivat’s Conference League qualifiers, where they drew 1-1 away before suffering a 6-1 defeat at home to the Armenian side. UEFA’s probe confirmed the club’s involvement in manipulating the outcome, leading to severe penalties. In addition to the 10-year suspension, which extends until the end of the 2034-35 season, the Montenegrin First League club was fined €500,000 ($578,400). UEFA has also requested FIFA to enforce the ban globally.
Further sanctions targeted individuals involved: Arsenal Tivat player Nikola Celebic and official Ranko Krgovic received lifetime bans, while two other players were suspended for 10 years. The measures underscore UEFA’s commitment to combating corruption in football and maintaining the integrity of its competitions.
Source: African Publicity
