These days, one topic is in the center of discussion among Uzbek football fans: the clubs were given a part of the money from the state budget, but there is a limit on salary payments – one person cannot be paid more than 27 million soums. It really happened, for the first time in history billions of money came directly from the budget to clubs, but there are nuances.
Limit: 27 million maximum!
According to the new regulation, large state-owned enterprises, which have been sponsoring Super League clubs, began to throw sponsorship money into one fund. Under the control of UFA, 35 billion soums will be allocated to each top division team. The first party has already been transferred to the account of the clubs. A meeting was held with the participation of the leadership of UFA and PFL on how to distribute this money. It clearly states: no one can be paid more than 27 million soums from the money provided by the state. After taking into account the taxes, the players can earn a maximum of 23 million soums.
It is also determined how much money can be given to other employees in the club. For example, the head coach earns less than 10 million soums. These demands shocked some clubs. Because at the beginning of the year, a contract was signed with players, especially legionnaire players who like to run and write to FIFA if the salary is delayed, they obviously won’t even tie their shoelaces for 23 million. In addition, the salaries of local players are too high, and clubs are bringing in legionnaires because they are cheaper.
I heard that in one of the capital’s clubs, legionnaire players refused to participate in training after hearing about such a salary. This can be understood, they also come to another country to support their families by playing football. In addition to eating and drinking while traveling, it is impossible not to earn 3-4 soums for the family.
In clubs like “Bunyodkor”, the situation is more difficult. Because the “swallows” are forced to pay the debts of Rivaldo and Denilson. Believe me, these players who were brought in for PR did not give anything to Uzbek football, and it was clear that they will not give anything. The debt is not small, almost 9.5 million dollars! A person is afraid to calculate how much this soum will be, even if it does not fit on a calculator.
By the way, the representative of “Uzbekneftgaz”, which has been financing such clubs as “Bunyodkor”, “Nasaf”, “Bukhara”, “Mash’al”, “Shortan” for many years, said that the organization has been giving about 300 billion for football every year. That means $25 million, if I’m not mistaken. If only one organization spends that much every year, calculate how much money has been given to football clubs from state enterprises over the decades.
In fact, this is not news for people in football, after the recent news, many people have counted the money in football, and many of our compatriots are surprised to hear how much public money is given to football.
Now let’s return to the issue of 27 million. Clubs should understand one thing correctly, the state does not promise to pay the player’s salary of 10 thousand, 20 thousand, 30-40 thousand dollars, nor is it obliged to do so. The state says that we will pay part of the expenses, find the rest yourself, and if necessary, look for a door-to-door sponsor.
Clubs should also be properly understood. They signed a contract with the players at the beginning of the year, the players do not play for little money, that’s how it is all over the world. If such a procedure was established after the end of the season, the next season would have been extended towards the blanket of clubs.
27 million is really little money for today’s senior players, but if you give that much money to a young guy running around in the reserve team, imagine how passionate he will be playing football. If a young man who just graduated from school, who carries lunch from home in a thermos, makes it to the main team and takes home $2,000 a month, there will be a celebration at his house. But if you give 2,000 to a professional who earns 10,000 per month, it is pointless to expect results from him.
In fact, it was possible to say that there is no soum for football tomorrow. But he “didn’t want to suddenly cut off oxygen”, no matter how painful it was, he decided to help the clubs little by little for 2-3 years. During this time, clubs should become private and attract sponsors.
Many interpreted the new order as the state now giving money to football from the budget, but this is not the case, the state has drastically reduced the amount of money given to football for ten years. The first bitter effects of this are already felt by the clubs. Our football will pass these days anyway, and someday state money should be used not for football, but for asphalt, building a school, hospital.
Our level of football is high, I believe, high enough to overcome these difficult times. In the current situation, it is necessary to understand both sides correctly, do not rush to condemn the clubs and players, try to understand the situation. I’m not trying to take sides now, I’m just trying to explain the situation. Our football should accept the new order as a bitter experience and look for new measures. After all, medicine is bitter, but then it heals a person…
