FIFA imposes transfer ban on Bunyodkor over Rivaldo case

Bunyodkor Football Club will not be able to register new players until it settles its accounts with Rivaldo. The Uzbekistan Professional Football League reported this, citing FIFA’s decision dated June 23.

It was reported that the Uzbekistan Football Association officially notified the League of the ban yesterday, July 2.

Earlier, Bunyodkor officially acknowledged its debt to the former Brazilian footballer and later reached an agreement with Rivaldo to repay it gradually over five years.

According to reports, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the club fulfilled its obligations under the five-year agreement. However, in 2026, after Uzbekneftegaz JSC, the club’s founder and main sponsor, stopped financing Bunyodkor Football Club, the club was unable to make the next debt payment due by May this year.

After that, Rivaldo filed another complaint with FIFA. In addition, the terms of the five-year agreement with Bunyodkor, as well as the discounts provided under it, were canceled.

The summer transfer window in Uzbekistan will remain open until August 10. According to the PFL, Bunyodkor can no longer register new players with the League. The club may finish the season with its current players and may later include only young players who were already listed in FIFA’s system as Bunyodkor academy graduates before the ban came into force.

Young players admitted to the Bunyodkor Football Academy after June 23 this year will also not be able to be registered for the club under the ban.

It is worth noting that QALAMPIR.UZ previously published a detailed article on the dispute between the club and Rivaldo over this debt.