A club that formerly competed in the UEFA Conference League has been banned from all European competitions for a decade after being charged with serious match fixing offences.
FK Arsenal Tivat, who play their domestic football in Montenegro, were sanctioned after suspicious betting patterns were reported during their Conference League qualifier against Armenian outfit Alashkert FC back in 2023/24.
The first leg of that qualification tie ended in a 1-1 draw, but the second saw Alashkert thrash the Montenegrins 6-1 on home soil.
And it’s that particular game that has triggered the ten-year ban, a €500,000 (£430,000) fine plus a lifetime suspension for Arsenal Tivat player Nikola Celebic.
The Fix
Before the second leg of that Conference League qualifier in July 2023 had kicked off, bookmakers in a number of different countries were reporting suspicious betting patterns, with a large volume of bets placed on an Alashkert victory.
There was also a larger-than-normal series of wagers placed on Alashkert with a minus goal handicap; that was surprising, given the close nature of the first leg and that Arsenal Tivat would have home advantage in the reverse fixture.
The 6-1 scoreline was a shock, to say the least, and evidence presented by bookmakers and betting integrity agencies across Europe and Asia was enough for the UEFA Disciplinary Committee to launch a full investigation.
Alashkert led 2-0 at half-time, before an avalanche of goals were netted in the second period – two of the Armenian sides strikes coming in injury time.
After analysing the data supplied, the authority concluded that Arsenal Tivat had breached Articles 11 – relating to general conduct and integrity of competitions – and 12 (match fixing) of the UEFA Disciplinary Code.
“The decision of the CEDB [Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body and the Appeals Body] in the case of FK Arsenal Tivat is a fine of €500,000 and the exclusion of FK Arsenal Tivat from participating in UEFA club competitions for ten years (i.e. up to and including the 2034/35 season) for breaching Articles 11 and 12 of the UEFA Disciplinary Code,” a UEFA statement reads.
In addition, Arsenal Tivat player Nikola Celebic – who played at centre back in the game in question – has also been found guilty of breaching Articles 11 and 12. He will be banned from all UEFA sanctioned competitions for life, as will club official Rango Krgovic.
Other Arsenal Tivat players were also sanctioned by UEFA, with Cetko Manojlovic (Celebic’s central defensive partner), right back Radule Zivkovic and goalkeeper Dusan Puletic, who all played in the 1-6 mauling, banned from football for ten years.
In each case, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body and the Appeals Body will submit a motion to FIFA that all of the bans and sanctions are extended to cover all football jurisdictions around the globe.
Questionable Integrity
Although UEFA claim to take a zero tolerance stance on match fixing, it’s amazing how many clubs and players have attempted to get away with breaching the rules in competitions sanctioned by the governing body.
In 2009, there was huge embarrassment all round when three Champions League qualifiers and as many as 12 Europa League ties were embroiled in a scandal that was described by UEFA’s Peter Limacher as the ‘biggest match-fixing scandal ever to hit Europe.’
The scam, fronted by Croatian brothers Ante and Milan Sapina, was designed for gang members to profit via the placement of coordinated bets into Asian bookmakers.
Others embroiled included a referee, Oleg Orijechow, and Macedonian club FK Pobeda, who were banned from participating in European competitions for eight years over charges of fixing a Europa League clash with Pyunik. Pobeda captain Nikolce Zdravevski was hit with a lifetime ban from UEFA tournaments.
Other high-profile cases have involved Turkish clubs Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Sivasspor, who were also sanctioned in 2013 and 2014 over allegations of match fixing.
Fenerbahce were found to have played their part in fixing games in 2011, which led to them winning the Turkish Super League title. They were banned from competing in UEFA competitions for two years.
Besiktas were accused of fixing their Turkish Cup final in 2011, which they would go on to win via penalties.
Meanwhile, Steaua Bucharest – the European Cup winners back in 1986 – also came under the microscope when their owner, Gigi Becali, was convicted on charges of match fixing, corruption and kidnapping. Steaua were banned from participating in the next UEFA competition they qualified for.