The Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica forwarded a criminal complaint against the president of the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) to the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT). Dejan Savićević and several other persons, on suspicion of having committed abuse of official position.
The criminal complaint against them was filed by the director of the CREAM Montenegro PPP alliance and the ImPPPact ambassador to Montenegro. Darko Vlahovic due to suspicions that "by illegally donating technical documentation, namely the Main Project and revision for the eastern stand, in addition to public procurement, they diverted and spent FSCG funds for no other purpose - damaging the budget of the Association by more than 500.000 euros in favor of the Studio K company."
The criminal report from January 16th of this year, which "Vijesti" had access to, was forwarded by the Basic State Prosecutor's Office to the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office, and yesterday the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office officially informed "Vijesti" that they had forwarded the criminal report to the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office.
As designers, we acted upon the investor's request and harmonized the main project with the applicable law, standards and regulations, and submitted it to the auditor on August 5, 2025.
The eastern tribune project was developed and returned several times, and participants provide different information about when the main project was completed, when it was revised, and how it was submitted to the Capital City.
Although not an investor, FSCG financed the development of the main project and the revision and tried to "donate" it to the Capital City, which, according to the applicant Vlahović, is not in accordance with the Public Procurement Law. The documentation therefore "walked" between the Federation, Sports Facilities, the Capital Projects Administration and the Ministry of Public Works for years, which returned it in April 2025 due to irregularities.
Speed circuit
When asked about the dates of the development of the main design and the revision of the project, the company "Studio K" told "Vijesti" that they completed the development of the main design of the eastern stand of the City Stadium in Podgorica in December 2021, and submitted it to the "Institute for Development and Research in the Field of Occupational Safety and Health" (the auditor), who carried out the project control. They state that they then submitted it to the FSCG, with a positive auditor's report in November 2022, which completed the design and revision process at that point.
However, a document that "Vijesti" has access to, according to the records of the Ministry of Public Works, states that the main project was certified with an electronic seal in May 2022, while the final audit report was certified with an electronic seal in April 2024.
Studio K stated that they were informed by the FSCG and the Capital City that the legal regulations in this area changed between the beginning of 2022 and April 2025 and that the project and audit needed to be adapted to the new regulations.
"As designers, we acted upon the investor's request and harmonized the main project with the applicable law, standards and regulations, and submitted it to the auditor on August 5, 2025," the company told "Vijesti".
The Institute for Development and Research in the Field of Occupational Safety told "Vijesti" that they had reviewed the main design of the eastern stand of the stadium in Podgorica "in accordance with the relevant regulations" and that they would refer other issues to other participants in the project.
Sports Facilities told "Vijesti" that based on a meeting held on January 20, 2025 at the FSCG premises, which was attended by representatives of FSCG, the Capital City, the Capital Projects Administration and the then executive director of Sports Facilities Aleksandar Vuckovic, a decision was made to submit the revised main design of the eastern stand on 21. 2. 2025, with the documentation of the UP-1 revision in the scope of the DUP ''Nova Varoš'' Capital City of Podgorica. They also state that it was submitted to the Capital Projects Administration on 28. 2. 2025.
"I can answer all your other questions from the capital," they said.
The designer acted upon our request and completed the main design in accordance with the application of the currently valid standards for the calculation of building structures, as well as the new regulations. The new revision of the main design was completed and submitted to the Capital City on September 9, 2025, according to FSCG
FSCG said that the designer completed the main design of the eastern stand in December 2021, when it was submitted for review.
"After obtaining approval, the auditor reviewed this project and submitted it, with a positive auditor's report, to the FSCG on 26. 4. 2023, thus completing the design and review process. The law at the time stipulated that the investor constructs the facility based on the construction application and other documentation. On 9. 5. 2023, the FSCG informed the Capital City that the main design of the eastern stand had been completed and revised, and the project was waiting for takeover until 21. 2. 2025, when, according to instructions from the Capital City, it was submitted to the Public Enterprise 'Sports Facilities'. Representatives of the Ministry of Public Works informed the FSCG and the Capital City in April 2025 that in the meantime, after the submission of the revised main design, new circumstances had arisen," FSCG told "Vijesti".
These new circumstances were related, as they said, to the fact that in July 2022, the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism adopted amendments to the Rulebook relating to the design of building structures, which defined the date foreseen for the deadline for the application of existing standards during design and the transition from 1 January 2023 exclusively to the application of Eurocodes for the calculation of building structures. In addition, a new Law on the Construction of Structures was adopted in March 2025, which defined the obligation for the investor to begin construction of the structure after obtaining a building permit.
In addition, as specified by the FSCG, by-laws have also entered into force - the Rulebook on the method of preparation, content and verification of technical documentation for the construction of a facility dated May 29 this year, and the Rulebook on the method of conducting a review of technical documentation and preparing an audit report dated June 25 this year, which define new procedures and forms of documentation.
"The designer acted upon our request and completed the main design in accordance with the application of the currently applicable standards for the calculation of building structures, as well as the new Rules. The new revision of the main design was completed and submitted to the Capital City on September 9, 2025," FSCG said.
According to the document that "Vijesti" had access to, the Ministry of Public Works sent its comments to the Capital City in April 2025, and returned the main design and revision to the Capital City, and the designer was provided with precisely stated deficiencies that were assessed as problematic, listed in nine points, including, among other things, "that the steel structure was not made in accordance with legal and by-laws, including technical regulations and standards relating to the design and construction of steel structures, as well as other deficiencies in the revised main design regarding the construction technology of reinforced concrete elements, the installation of semi-prefabricated and prefabricated elements, as well as due to the inconsistency of the designed solutions and the bills of quantities and preliminary estimates of works...".
In its response to "Vijesti", FSCG stated that it had completed the main design in accordance with the application of the currently valid standards for the calculation of building structures, as well as the new regulations. The new revision of the main design was completed and submitted to the Capital City on 9 September 2025.
When asked why the main design and revision were not submitted as a donation to the mayor and the Capital City, but to the Public Enterprise “Sports Facilities”, FSCG said that the revised main design of the eastern stand, upon the recommendation of the Capital City, was submitted to the Public Enterprise “Sports Facilities”, which is responsible for managing sports infrastructure in the territory of the Capital City, and therefore the City Stadium. When asked on what legal basis FSCG submitted the main design and revision for the eastern stand to the Public Enterprise “Sports Facilities”, given that the company states that it did not accept them as a donation, but only took them over and submitted them to the Capital Projects Administration, they replied that “the answer is mostly in the previous answer”.
The Ministry of Public Works told "Vijesti" that, in accordance with their responsibilities, they are implementing projects that are included in the annual Law on the Budget of Montenegro. They also state that the Capital City, or rather "Sports Facilities", submitted the main design for the eastern stand of the City Stadium with an underground garage to the then Capital Projects Administration on 28 February 2025, and that all questions related to the method of obtaining it should be addressed to the Capital City.
The Ministry of Public Works' comments on the submitted project documentation were sent to the Mayor's Office on April 24, 2025. They related to the compliance of the Main Project with applicable legal regulations, technical regulations and standards.
Furthermore, on 15.05.2025., the designer was provided with precisely stated deficiencies that were assessed as problematic from the point of view of the public procurement procedure. These comments were submitted in order to prevent potential questions from bidders during the procedure, as well as to avoid subsequent requests from contractors during the project implementation. After the Capital City officially submits the supplemented and complete project documentation, the Ministry will, as stated, consider it and take further actions with the aim of implementing the project.
The Capital City did not answer "Vijesti" whether it is true that the Ministry of Public Works returned the main project and revision for the eastern tribune due to identified shortcomings and non-compliance with EU standards, for what reasons the Capital City did not accept the FSCG donation in the form of the main project and revision, but rather the documentation was taken over by the PE "Sportski objekti", which later submitted it to the Capital Projects Administration, on what legal basis did the PE "Sportski objekti" take over and submit the main project and revision to the Capital Projects Administration, given that the documentation was not obtained in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement or through a public tender by state institutions, but through a tender by the non-profit organization FSCG, as well as for what reasons the mayor did not accept the FSCG donation in the form of the main project and revision.
SDT has been combing through documentation for two years
Vlahović filed the first complaint against the leaders of the Capital City, FSCG and the design firm “Studio K” back in June 2022, claiming that they abused their position and illegally obtained material benefits in connection with the project. In addition to Savićević, the complaint also includes the former chief architect of the Capital City Filip Aleksic, former mayor Ivan Vukovic and co-owner of Studio K Dragan Komatina.
The SDT has formed a case and is conducting an investigation...
The prosecutor's office did not respond to "Vijesti"'s inquiry sent on September 8th about the stage the case is in and whether any decision has been made.
Vlahović recently submitted the second supplement to the criminal complaint to the SDT, which includes the current mayor of Podgorica. Saša Mujović, FSCG, former director of “Sports Facilities” Vučković, former director of the Capital Projects Administration Esmin Bećović, former assistant director of the Capital Projects Administration Maja Delic, Aleksić, Komatina, “Institute for Development and Research in the Field of Occupational Safety”, Minister of Sports and Youth Dragoslav Šćekić, unidentified persons from the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property and the Directorate for Inspection Affairs and Licensing.
Vlahović told "Vijesti" that as part of the investigation, the SDT in July 2024 ordered the Special Police Department (SPO) to seize and deliver all necessary documentation.
"The SPO acted upon the request of the SDT and seized the requested documentation, while questioning one person in his capacity as a citizen, after which the case file was handed over to the economic advisor with the task of compiling the necessary information. In early December last year, the requested information was compiled and submitted, and given the conclusion of the economic advisor, in mid-December the SPO was asked to obtain additional financial documentation," said Vlahović.
Vlahović: It's high time those responsible from FSCG were brought to justice
He has been warning for years that the documentation for the eastern tribune was illegally prepared and an attempt was made to "forcefully deliver" it as a donation to the Capital City.
He states that the law prohibits the donation of technical documentation for public facilities, but rather provides for public tenders and procurement. He claims that both former mayors Vuković and Olivera Injac refused to accept the documentation precisely because of its illegality, and that an attempt was later made to transfer it through the Public Company "Sports Facilities" in order to avoid formal liability.
According to the documentation, the project envisages a 6.100-seat grandstand, accompanying media and commercial facilities, as well as two floors of underground parking on more than 37.000 square meters. The investor is the Government of Montenegro, while the owner should be the Capital City, i.e. Sports Facilities. After the latest revision, the construction of the eastern grandstand is expected to cost around 35 million euros.
Vlahović told "Vijesti" that he calls on the competent institutions to conduct further proceedings transparently and efficiently, in order to clarify all the circumstances of the case.
"Because it is planned to pay 35 million euros from the budget of all citizens of Montenegro for just one stand at the City Stadium," he said.
Vlahović said that the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, based on his report dated January 16, 2025, had opened a case against several individuals, and added that the investigation also included Goran Dragović for abuse of official position, and that the case, after investigation, was transferred to the VDT, and then to the SDT.
A grandstand costs almost as much as the entire stadium in Zagreb
At the end of 2024, the City of Zagreb presented a project to build a new stadium in Kranjčevićeva, with a capacity of 11.163 seats and a fourth UEFA category, worth 37,8 million euros. The stadium will have modern infrastructure - a large square with greenery, parking for several hundred vehicles, modern LED lighting and a solar power plant that will reduce maintenance costs. The works will last two years, and completion is planned by September 2026.
In Sarajevo, a tender was announced in early 2025 for the construction of the southern stand of the Grbavica stadium, with a capacity of 5.000 seats and the third UEFA category, with a covered parking lot, and the total value of the works is 2,4 million euros.
In comparison, just one eastern stand of the City Stadium in Podgorica, with a capacity of around 6.000 seats and the third UEFA category, is estimated at 35 million euros, almost as much as the entire new stadium in Zagreb, while it is more than ten times more expensive than the Sarajevo stand of similar capacity.
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