UEFA sanctions Arsenal Tivat for 10 years and hands lifetime ban to several players

UEFA has ruled to ban Montenegrin club Arsenal Tivat from European competitions for the next 10 years, fined them 500,000 euros and banned several players for life following an attempted match-fixing incident in a 2023-2024 Conference League game against Alashkert.

This was announced on Wednesday by the European football body itself following an investigation and disciplinary proceedings against Arsenal Tivat and others in connection with alleged violations of its Disciplinary Regulations for alleged match-fixing, which took place against Alashkert of Armenia in July 2023.

The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) decided to ban Arsenal Tivat from participating in European competitions for the next 10 years, to fine them 500,000 euros and to ban several of their players for life, as well as to ask FIFA to extend the ban worldwide.

Among Arsenal Tivat's personal punishments, which entail a lifetime ban from any football-related activity, those singled out were player Nikola Celebic and coach Ranko Krgovic.

Arsenal Tivat players Cetko Manojlovic, Radule Zivkovic and Dusan Puletic, as well as members of the coaching staff Milan Vignjevic, Goran Janjusevic and Christos Psomiadis, have been banned for the next 10 years and sentenced to ten, six and eight years respectively.  

UEFA has also asked FIFA to extend the sanction to worldwide level.