Lifetime ban for two: UEFA cracks down on match fixing players and officials

UEFA's fight against match-fixing has taken a dramatic turn, as the organization's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) announced a series of severe penalties impacting not just a club, but specific individuals involved in alleged integrity violations. These decisions stem from an investigation into the 2023/24 UEFA Conference League matches between FK Arsenal Tivat and Alashkert FC in July 2023.

Lifetime bans for Arsenal Tivat player and official

In a clear message that match-fixing will not be tolerated, Nikola Celebic, a player for FK Arsenal Tivat, and Ranko Krgovic, an official for the same club, have both received lifetime bans from exercising any football-related activity. These permanent exclusions come after they were found in violation of UEFA's General Principles of Conduct and regulations concerning the Integrity of Matches and Competitions and Match-Fixing. UEFA has formally requested FIFA to extend these lifetime bans worldwide, ensuring they cannot participate in the sport anywhere on the globe.

EXTENSIVE SUSPENSIONS FOR PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS

Beyond the lifetime bans, the CEDB has issued significant multi-year suspensions to several other individuals.

Ten-year bans:

Cetko Manojlovic (FK Arsenal Tivat - Player)Radule Zivkovic (FK Arsenal Tivat - Player)Dusan Puletic (FK Arsenal Tivat - Player)Milan Vignjevic (FK Radnicki Obrenovac - Official)

These individuals are banned from all football-related activities for a decade, with UEFA seeking worldwide extensions through FIFA.

Eight-year ban:

Christos Psomiadis has been banned from football-related activities for eight years.

Six-year ban:

Goran Janjusevic (FK Radnicki Obrenovac - Official) has received a six-year ban.

All individuals facing bans have also been cited for violating UEFA's regulations on general principles of conduct and match integrity.

CLUB SANCTIONS

In addition to the individual penalties, FK Arsenal Tivat itself has been severely penalized. The club received a €500,000 fine and, critically, an unprecedented ten-year exclusion from participating in all UEFA club competitions, effective up to and including the 2034/35 season. This effectively sidelines the Montenegrin side from the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for a full decade.

These sweeping disciplinary actions underscore UEFA's intensified efforts to protect the sport from corruption and send a strong deterrent message across the footballing world.