“Bunyodkor” football club of Tashkent is facing serious financial problems due to the termination of sponsorship by “Uzbekneftgaz”. “That’s what we’ve come to, the Bunyodkor stadium and academy have had no hot water for 2 months, the last time we got it was in December. Today, the electricity was turned off in the entire academy and stadium area,” wrote the representative of the club’s press service. Also, the debt payments to the Brazilian player Rivaldo have become a serious problem.
Photo: Facebook / Furqatbek Nishonov
“Bunyodkor” football club of Tashkent is facing financial problems. According to the representative of the press service of the team, Furqatbek Nishonov, hot and cold water, as well as electricity, were cut off from the “Bunyodkor” stadium and academy due to arrears from utility bills.
“This is what we have come to, the Bunyodkor stadium and academy have not had hot water for 2 months, we got the last one in December, and today the electricity has been turned off in the entire academy and stadium area. By the way, this year Uzbekistan will participate in the World Championship for the first time in history! Good luck!” – he said wrote Nishonov on his Facebook page.
According to the representative of the club contacted by Kun.uz, after “Uzbekneftgaz” stopped sponsoring, the debt payments to Rivaldo became a big problem.
“The 2026 installment of Rivaldo’s debt, which is due until 2028, was not paid until April 15. Now, big pennies will be added to it. 2/3 of the 35 billion given by the state will go to Rivaldo,” he says.
Earlier, it was reported that a number of large state companies have stopped financing football clubs. For example, “Uzbekneftgaz” stopped sponsoring “Bunyodkor”, “Nasaf” and “Bukhara” clubs at the beginning of the year. gave up.
35 billion soum financing system
Starting from this year’s season, football clubs in Uzbekistan will receive money directly from the state budget. Signed on March 27 decision 35 billion soums in 2026, 30 billion soums in 2027, and 25 billion soums in 2028 will be allocated from the state budget to each of the Super League clubs. The total amount allocated to 16 clubs this year is 560 billion soums, which means more than 45 million dollars.
In addition, from April 1, 2026, players of Super League and Pro League clubs will be exempted from personal income tax for a period of 3 years. The social tax rate for them is set at 1 percent. These privileges apply not only to players, but also to all coaches involved in national teams in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Also, tax relief was established for businessmen who sponsored football clubs and various sports federations. Such entrepreneurs have also won the right to advertise at half price during sports broadcasts of state TV channels. Entrepreneurs who cover at least 20% of the club’s expenses can take over the club as trustees. If the businessman wants to buy the club outright, the state has also announced that he will be given a preferential loan.
By the decision, the assignment was given to determine the market price of football clubs and to privatize the state share in them by the end of the year. However, the task of “not to have a state share in a single club until such and such a date” has not been set.
Indebtedness to Rivaldo
Two years ago, FIFA’s disciplinary committee decided that Bunyodkor should pay 9.2 million euros to Brazilian players Rivaldo and Denilson. released. The debt of the club to Rivaldo is 8.1 million euros, and the debt to Denilson is estimated at 1.1 million euros. These amounts include unpaid bonuses, late payment interest, contract termination fees, and players’ court costs.
Later, “Bunyodkor” reached an additional agreement with former Brazilian players announced. The agreed sum was to be paid to Denilson in three installments until 2026, and the settlement with Rivaldo was to be made once a year until 2028.
Let’s remember that Rivaldo defended the honor of the “Bunyodkor” club in 2008-2010 and became the champion of Uzbekistan three times. Denilson won the championship with the Tashkent club in 2010, scored 4 goals in 14 games in the Oliy League, and 5 goals in 6 games in the OHL.
