The NGO Football Montenegro has urged Montenegro’s President, Jakov Milatović, to clarify the rationale behind his decision to award Dejan Savićević, President of the Football Federation of Montenegro, the Order of the Montenegrin Flag, First Class, on May 21, our nation’s Independence Day.

Below is the full statement from the NGO Football Montenegro:

“The NGO Football Montenegro is dismayed by the President’s decision to present an award to the illegitimate president of the FSCG. We wish to address the President, the Government, and the public of Montenegro.

Firstly, we ask the Prime Minister how it is possible that, regardless of the country’s name, the decisions of the Administrative Court remain unhonored and all decisions from inspection bodies are disregarded? Who is safeguarding the individual who refers to himself as the President of the FSCG? Is there truly no course of action?

We would like to inquire of President Milatović if, upon awarding the decoration to the self-styled president of the FSCG, he considered the following:

1. That the 1st league ranks among the poorest in Europe,

2. That our national team is positioned at 47th in the UEFA rankings,

3. That our infrastructure is among the worst in Europe,

4. That we are one of the few nations where World Cup qualifiers had no venues until the last minute,

5. That we are also among the few countries whose Football Association prohibits the introduction of the VAR system,

6. That the self-proclaimed president has essentially privatized the FSCG,

7. That he created a competition system in the third league allowing a club to hold the regional championship for 30 consecutive years without promotion,

8. That this self-proclaimed president enabled certain individuals to register multiple clubs, often with fewer than ten players, resulting in losses as severe as 39:0, simply to secure their votes,

9. That he hastily judged the Zeta – Budva match as fixed while the Mladost – Dečić match, under public scrutiny for a year, was determined to be staged,

10. That he oversaw the construction of the House of Football, claimed to cost 5 million euros a decade ago but is actually worth significantly less,

11. That he is the individual who decides which clubs get relegated and which remain in league play, making him solely accountable for every decision in the FSCG,

12. Finally, he removed from the FSCG Statute in 2012 a stipulation limiting presidential terms to two terms of four years each, maintaining his position for over 25 years.

President of Montenegro, if you are a legalist who respects the laws of the state you represent, how could you award such a person for their services to Montenegro?

Did you truly read it accurately, or was a recommendation made to you about this candidate? Why? We anticipate a response, even if brief.

You have conferred an unmerited recognition given this individual’s actions over the past 25 years. However, the NGO Football Montenegro, consisting of numerous former football stars, current and past sports professionals, and passionate football supporters, will not accept these disgraceful decisions and will continue to advocate for the interests of all who care about football.

“Once again, we ask you to clearly state what motivated your decision to present this award to the self-proclaimed president of the Football Federation of Montenegro,” concluded the NGO Football Montenegro statement.

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