Fans of Tashkent's Bunyodkor football club displayed a banner reading 'Aliyev Out' during a match, calling for the resignation of general director Murod Aliyev. The protest stems from prolonged financial and organizational issues that have plagued the club for several years.

One of the most prominent episodes is a long-standing dispute with former players Rivaldo and Denilson, who played for the then-named Quruvchi in 2008–2010. In February 2024, FIFA's disciplinary committee ordered Bunyodkor to pay the players approximately 9.2 million euros. The debt originated from the Zeromax era.

At the time, general director Murod Aliyev stated that the issue would be resolved jointly with the club's founder and main sponsor, Uzbekneftegaz. Subsequently, the club reached an agreement with Rivaldo to pay in installments until 2028, with gradually increasing annual payments.

However, this schedule could not be fulfilled. In 2026, Uzbekneftegaz ceased funding the club by government decision, causing the scheduled May payment to be missed. After Rivaldo's renewed appeal, FIFA banned Bunyodkor from registering new players in July until the debt is fully settled.

Financial difficulties have also affected the club's own players. Earlier reports indicated that Bunyodkor players had not received salaries for several months. According to media, part of the debt was paid only after the intervention of the State Assets Management Agency. Meanwhile, the search for a new sponsor for the club remains unresolved.

Source: podrobno.uz