The state-owned oil and gas giant, Uzbekneftegaz, officially cut off all funding for football clubs as of January 1. This was confirmed by Sukhrob Khamraev, the company’s First Deputy Chairman of the Board, during a press conference today.
Back in February, media outlets reported that the company had sent a formal notification to the Uzbekistan Football Association, announcing the end of its financial support for clubs like Nasaf, Bukhara, and Bunyodkor. Historically, other clubs such as Mash’al (linked to the Mubarek Gas Processing Plant) and Shurtan (supported by Shurtanneftegaz) also relied on funding through various Uzbekneftegaz subsidiaries.
“The termination of football club funding isn't just a rumor; we have spoken about this multiple times. Most recently, a presidential decree was issued to end corporate sponsorship in this area. This was a direct government mandate,” Khamraev stated.
According to Khamraev, while these clubs were previously sustained by the company’s sponsorship budget, the transition was immediate.
“Funding wasn't phased out gradually; it was cut off completely on January 1. Currently, not a single football club receives financial backing from us,” he noted.
According to his estimates, the total funding amounted to roughly 200–300 billion soums (approximately $16.5–25 million at current exchange rates). "If I recall correctly—and these figures might be slightly off—the annual expenditure for those four clubs combined was in the ballpark of 200 to 300 billion soums," Khamraev said.
However, he added that the government has established an alternative support system for the sport.
"As I understand it, the government anticipated this issue and passed a separate resolution regarding the development of football. A dedicated state fund has been created for organizations competing in the Super League, with 35 billion soums allocated to each club," Khamraev explained.
The First Deputy Chairman also clarified that Uzbekneftegaz will not be settling the outstanding debt owed to Brazilian legend Rivaldo, who played for Tashkent's Bunyodkor from 2008 to 2010. He emphasized that resolving the debt is the club's responsibility, not the company's.
In April 2024, Bunyodkor reached an agreement with Rivaldo and his compatriot Denílson regarding the arrears. At that time, the team stated that the club's leadership—which was Uzbekneftegaz at the time—would handle the payouts. The debt, totaling 9.2 million euros, is reportedly equivalent to the club’s entire budget for two to three years.
As a reminder, Uzbekistan is transitioning to a model where football clubs are funded directly from the state budget. In 2026, teams will receive 560 billion soums—35 billion each. Additionally, they will be exempt from income tax and benefit from a reduced social tax rate of 1%. Private investors interested in purchasing a club will also be eligible for low-interest loans.
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