On 16/7/2023, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced an unprecedented 10-year ban from European competitions and a $580,000 fine for FK Arsenal Tivat.
The Montenegrin club was found guilty of attempting to fix matches against Alashkert FC in the 2023-2024 Conference League qualifying rounds. UEFA also urged FIFA to extend the ban worldwide.
 |
Alashkert FC versus FK Arsenal Tivat (in white) in Armenia in July 2023. Photo: PL |
Alashkert FC versus FK Arsenal Tivat (in white) in Armenia in July 2023. Photo: PL
Several individuals also received substantial penalties. UEFA imposed lifetime bans on player Nikola Celebic and coach Ranko Krgovic. Players Cetko Manojlovic, Radule Zivkovic, and Dusan Puletic, along with assistant coach Milan Vignjevic, received 10-year bans. Assistant coaches Goran Janjusevic and Christos Psomiadis were banned for six and eight years, respectively. UEFA also requested FIFA to extend these individual bans globally.
FK Arsenal Tivat lost 1-6 and drew 1-1 against Alashkert FC in the two qualifying round matches.
Founded in 1914, FK Arsenal Tivat won the Montenegrin championship twice, in 1937 and 1940. Last season, they finished 8th out of 10 teams and secured their league status through a play-off round.
The most famous player to emerge from FK Arsenal Tivat is Ivica Kralj, the former Yugoslavia national team goalkeeper who played in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Thanh Quy (according to MD)
