UEFA Imposes Severe Sanctions on FK Arsenal Tivat for Match-Fixing

UEFA Issues a Decade-Long Ban to FK Arsenal Tivat

While individual players frequently face suspensions for misconduct, it is quite rare for an entire football club to be banned. This extreme measure was recently taken against the Montenegrin team FK Arsenal Tivat by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Details of the 10-Year Ban and Financial Penalty

UEFA found that FK Arsenal Tivat was involved in match-fixing, a serious breach of the sport’s regulations. As a consequence, the club has been prohibited from participating in professional European competitions for ten years, meaning they will only be eligible to return in the 2035-36 season.

In addition to the ban, the club faces a hefty fine of 500,000 euros (approximately $580,000) due to these violations. The infractions relate specifically to a 2023 fixture against Alashkert, where the two teams first drew, but Alashkert won the second match decisively with a 6-1 scoreline.

Individual Bans Imposed on Players and Officials

Alongside the club’s sanction, UEFA has also handed out personal bans. Three players received ten-year suspensions. Nikola Celebic, a player, and Ranko Krgovic, the sporting director, were both given lifetime bans from participating in UEFA competitions. UEFA has requested FIFA to enforce these bans worldwide, preventing those individuals from engaging in football activities anywhere.

Further consequences may follow from Montenegrin football authorities, although it is still unclear whether local regulators will impose additional punishments on the club or its members.

Additional Cases of Betting-Related Bans in Football

Separately, former professional footballer Ryan Bowman, who played for Cheltenham, Shrewsbury, and Exeter, received a ban lasting three and a half years. This penalty was due to his unauthorized involvement in betting on football matches, including wagers on his own teams, which breaches player integrity rules.

Sports organizations typically forbid athletes from betting on their sport to maintain fairness and trust. Various leagues enforce strict policies to address and regulate these violations.