Mrvaljević: This is the biggest corruption scandal in the history of Montenegrin sport

A criminal complaint, allegations of conflict of interest, and accusations of misuse of state funds have opened a new front in Montenegrin judo. Renowned judoka Srđan Mrvaljević claims that documentation related to the organization of the 2025 European Judo Championships in Podgorica has revealed serious irregularities and „the biggest corruption scandal in the history of sport“, while the Judo Federation of Montenegro rejects the allegations, insisting that everything was carried out legally.

Renowned Montenegrin judoka Srđan Mrvaljević said that his conflict with the Judo Federation of Montenegro began after the case involving two young girls who wanted to transfer to his club in Nikšić.

- Just over a year ago, I founded a judo club in Nikšić, which now has more than 120 members. One day, the parents of two girls, aged eight and ten, came to me and asked whether their daughters, who had been training at Judo Club Straševina, could transfer to my club. I told them they could, and I knew that when it comes to children, there should be no problems with transfer documentation. I expected everything to proceed normally - Mrvaljević said.

According to him, the girls' former club initiated disciplinary proceedings against them in an attempt to obstruct their transfer.

- In direct conversations with the parents, I heard shocking things - that the president of that club said he would do everything possible to make those two girls hate sports and quit judo. Naturally, I could not allow that. I instructed my coaches to take the girls to competitions together with the rest of the team, and because of that I received a disciplinary complaint from that club - he said.

Mrvaljević added that he warned the Federation that disciplinary proceedings could not legally be conducted against children.

- I told them that it was unlawful and that only educational, not disciplinary, measures could be applied to children. The Federation had the opportunity to react and protect the children, but instead they relied on their rulebook and suspended both me and my club for one year - Mrvaljević stated.

He added that he continued to support the girls and that they are still involved in judo today.

- I stood in front of them to protect them. They are still practicing judo today, they are happy, and they are involved in sports. I consider that my greatest achievement and victory. But at that point, I also promised that I would give everyone the opportunity to demonstrate their legality and legitimacy - Mrvaljević said.

He further stated that they subsequently filed a complaint with the Ombudsman, who, according to him, concluded that both Judo Club Straševina and the Judo Federation had violated the children's rights.

- The Ombudsman concluded that they had not acted in the best interests of the children - Mrvaljević said.

Speaking about documentation he obtained from the Ministry of Sports through the Law on Free Access to Information, relating to the organization of the 2025 Senior European Judo Championships in Podgorica, Mrvaljević said he was stunned by what he found.

- What I saw there left me shocked. I now claim that this is the biggest corruption scandal ever seen in sport - he said.

As one of the key examples, he cited a contract between the Judo Federation and the company MNE Sport Ltd.

- It is a two-and-a-half-page contract between the Federation and a company whose registered business activity is television channel streaming. What is particularly interesting is that the owner of that company, Željko Dragojević, is also a member of the Federation's Executive Board and voted to award his own company a contract worth €660,000 - Mrvaljević said.

According to him, the contract itself is contradictory.

- The contract does not mention any financial figures. One clause states that the company will perform the work completely free of charge, while another provides that payments will be made in accordance with the progress of implementation - he said.

As another example, he pointed to documentation showing that a private travel agency, Congres Travel, was designated to receive payments.

- Instead of the Judo Federation's bank account, the bank account of a private travel agency was listed. As a result, all hotel payments for delegations and athletes were made to a private company rather than to the Federation's account - Mrvaljević stated.

Vukčević: State funds must serve the development of sport, not individuals

Ivan Vukčević of the Centre for Civic Education said the issue was significant because it concerns the protection of human rights, responsible use of public funds, and the protection of the public interest.

- The role of sport in society is extremely important. We have previously responded to irregularities in sport because we believe this contributes to creating an environment that supports the true goals of sport. In this case, we are dealing with abuses and unlawful conduct within the Judo Federation - Vukčević said.

He emphasized that funds allocated by the Ministry of Sports must be used to develop sport.

- Young athletes deserve for the money allocated by the Ministry of Sports to be used for the development of sport, not to end up in the hands of individuals who have abused their official positions - Vukčević stated.

The Centre for Civic Education and Mrvaljević have filed a criminal complaint against Judo Federation President Jovica Rečević, Executive Board member Željko Dragojević, and other unidentified individuals on suspicion of embezzlement and fraud in connection with the spending of funds received from the Ministry of Sports.

Vukčević specifically highlighted the issue of conflict of interest.

- We have a situation where a member of the Executive Board participated in the decision to conclude a contract with a company in which he has an ownership interest. That is why we submitted an initiative to the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to determine whether a conflict of interest exists - he said.

He also announced that they would contact both the Sports Inspectorate and the Budget Inspection Authority to examine the Federation's financial operations related to the organization of the championship.

Vukčević also argued that the Federation acted unlawfully by failing to conduct a public procurement procedure for services related to organizing the championship.

- In this case, the Judo Federation has the status of a public-law entity. Under the Public Procurement Law, certain conditions must be met for an organization to be considered such an entity: it must be predominantly financed by the state or local government, and it must carry out activities of public interest. In the case of the Judo Federation, both conditions are fulfilled - Vukčević said.

Addressing Željko Dragojević directly, Vukčević argued that the mere fact that money entered and left the system does not automatically mean the transactions were lawful.

- The same amount of money may enter and leave the system, but subcontractors may still be paid based on incomplete documentation, handwritten pro forma invoices, or documentation lacking proper specifications. In the criminal offense of embezzlement, the key word is „obtain“. If someone obtains a benefit for themselves or others, criminal liability may arise - Vukčević said.

He also criticized the handling of the case involving the two young girls.

- You said that children can compete without belonging to a club. However, the Ombudsman determined that the children's rights had been violated. The children want to compete for this club, and the Ombudsman says you cannot deny them that right. Human rights must come first - Vukčević stated.

He added that the Ombudsman's opinion must be respected.

Vukčević explained that their review is focused primarily on criminal law aspects rather than every issue arising from the case.

- There is no need to ask ChatGPT, the Criminal Code is what matters most to us. Sports organizations can be public-law entities if they meet certain legal requirements - he said.

According to him, their claims are supported by the Public Procurement Law, the State Administration Law, the Sports Law, judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and European Union directives.

- The Judo Federation is predominantly financed by the state and therefore has obligations under the Public Procurement Law - Vukčević concluded.

Dragojević rejected the claims that sports federations are required to conduct public procurement procedures.

- Sports federations are not obliged to conduct public tenders. My accounting office does not accept handwritten invoices. I do not run an amateur operation - Dragojević said.