The outstanding salaries of the Bunyodkor Stadium staff, which had gone unpaid for several months, have now been recovered in full, the press service of the State Labor Inspectorate announced.
According to the agency, a binding written directive issued by the inspectorate successfully enforced the full payment of back wages totaling 867 million UZS to 49 stadium employees. The organization currently carries zero outstanding wage liabilities toward its staff.
Background
Earlier, a group of technical staff from the Bunyodkor Stadium management—including security guards, plumbers, cleaners, and electricians—reached out to media outlets to voice their grievances. They reported being left in severe financial distress due to systematic salary delays dating back to December 2025. The complainants highlighted a stark disparity: while players and football academy staff received their salaries on schedule, funds invariably ran dry when it came to paying the support staff.
The prolonged lack of income pushed several workers to the brink. Some reported falling into default on loans, resulting in the repossession of their household appliances, while others were forced to sell off their home furniture just to survive. At the time, the stadium's management attributed the extensive delays to the ongoing transition of securing a new corporate sponsor.
This crisis stems directly from a structural overhaul in how the stadium is funded. Previously, the facility’s operational and maintenance expenses were covered by Uzbekneftegaz JSC under a presidential decree. However, faced with declining gas production and systemic operational challenges, the state oil and gas company initiated a divestment of its non-core assets. Consequently, effective January 1, 2026, the company completely halted its financial backing for the Nasaf, Bukhara, and Bunyodkor football clubs.
While specific state budget allocations were funneled directly to the Super League clubs themselves, the funding source for the Bunyodkor Directorate—which employs the stadium's support staff and is 100% owned by the Uzbekistan Football Association—was left completely up in the air and unresolved.
Ultimately, the intervention of the State Labor Inspectorate brought an end to the ordeal of the 49 stranded workers who had been left without income. Notably, the inspectorate's official statement did not disclose from which financial reserves or budget lines the back wages were finally drawn.
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