FIFA imposes transfer bans on Bunyodkor and Andijan
FIFA imposes transfer bans on Bunyodkor and Andijan / Photo: ESPN
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — World football's governing body, FIFA, has imposed a transfer embargo prohibiting Uzbek clubs FC Bunyodkor and FC Andijan from registering new players, the Professional Football League (PFL) of Uzbekistan announced.
According to the league, the disciplinary ruling against Tashkent-based Bunyodkor was issued on 23 June 2026. The Uzbekistan Football Association officially notified the PFL on 2 July 2026 that the club would be restricted from adding new footballers to its roster.
The league explained that Bunyodkor had previously acknowledged its long-standing debts to former Brazilian superstar Rivaldo and entered into a restructuring agreement to settle the arrears in installments over a five-year period. While the club honored its scheduled payments throughout 2024 and 2025, it failed to make its 2026 installment. The financial default occurred after the state-owned enterprise Uzbekneftegaz, which served as the club's founder and primary general sponsor, completely halted its funding.
Following the missed payment, Rivaldo re-escalated the matter to FIFA, resulting in the cancellation of the restructuring terms and the financial discounts previously granted to the club.
As a result, Bunyodkor will be barred from registering new signings until the conclusion of the current summer transfer window and must compete with its existing squad. The team will only be permitted to register youth academy players who were integrated into the FIFA system as homegrown prospects before the ban took effect. Players entering the academy after 23 June 2026 cannot be registered.
FIFA applied concurrent sanctions against FC Andijan for failing to meet its financial obligations to Albanian club KF Laçi within the stipulated timeframe. The dispute involves the transfer of Slovenian midfielder Altin Krezhiu.
Under the initial FIFA directive, Andijan was ordered to clear the debt within a 45-day window. However, the club missed the 10 June 2026 deadline. Consequently, Andijan has been banned from registering new players for three consecutive transfer windows.
The restriction on Andijan will only be lifted once the debt is settled in full and official confirmation of receipt is provided by the Albanian club.
Rivaldo famously played for the Tashkent club—then known as Kuruvchi—from 2008 to 2010. During his stint, he made 61 appearances, scored 37 goals, and won three domestic league titles.
In April 2024, Bunyodkor reported reaching a settlement with Rivaldo and his compatriot Denílson, estimating the total arrears owed to the Brazilian players at approximately €9.2 million. However, effective 1 January 2026, Uzbekneftegaz completely terminated its financial backing of professional football clubs as part of a wider state transition, which ultimately disrupted the club's payment schedule to Rivaldo.
