The Athletic cited UEFA news and reported on Thursday, that the Montenegrin club Arsenal Tivat was heavily penalized by the authorities for match-fixing and was banned from European competitions for 10 years.

According to the report, Arsenal Tivat planned the match-fixing incident in a UEFA Conference League qualifier against the Armenian club Alashkert in July 2023.

Although the two club 1-1 in the first leg, but Arsenal Tivat lost 6-2 in a very bizarrely in the second leg.

Because the result was too strange, UEFA launched an investigation into the players and officials after receiving an anonymous report. In the end, UEFA's Disciplinary and Ethics Commission found that there was solid evidence that Arsenal Tivat had match-fixed in this UEFA Conference League qualifier.

The Ethics and Disciplinary Committee decided to impose a 10-year European competition ban on Arsenal Tivat after citing Article 11 - Violation of general principles of conduct and Article 12 - Violation of the rules of fair play and match-fixing. At the same time, the club will also be fined €500,000.

This means that Arsenal Tivat will be banned from participating in any club-level cup competitions under UEFA, the Champions League, the Europa League, the UEFA Conference League and the qualifiers for these competitions until the end of the 2034/35 season.

Due to the serious nature of the violation, UEFA has transferred the investigation report and the verdict to FIFA.

Next, let's see whether FIFA and even the International Court of Arbitration for Sport will expel Arsenal Tivat from the professional football system.

In addition, Arsenal Tivat veteran Nikola Čelebić and Sporting Director Ranko Krgović will be banned for life, and both will not be allowed to participate in any football-related activities and careers for life.

The other three players involved in the match-fixing incident, captain, Bosnian center back Ćetko Manojlović, Serbian goalkeeper Dušan Puletić and Montenegrin defender Radule Živković will be banned for 10 years.

Since these three players are already in their 30s, this means that they will retire early immediately.

Arsenal Tivat is a club founded in 1914 in the coastal town of Tivat, Montenegro. It is the second oldest club in Montenegrin football and has no connection with the Premier League giants Arsenal.

In the summer of 2022, Arsenal Tivat was promoted to the Montenegrin First League for the first time in their history after winning the promotion play-offs.

Last season, Arsenal Tivat defeated Lovćen in the Montenegrin First League promotion/relegation play-offs in the end and barely avoided relegation.