Bunyodkor vs. Rivaldo: dispute escalates

The club failed to pay a €1.5 million installment due in 2026. Rivaldo’s legal representatives are now demanding immediate repayment of the full outstanding balance, plus a 10% penalty and 1% monthly late fee.

In 2023, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne ordered Bunyodkor to settle its debt to Rivaldo. The parties later reached a restructuring agreement under which the total obligation was reduced to €7.5 million, payable in annual installments through 2028. The arrangement included €1.35 million in principal payments plus €150,000 in additional annual charges.

Payments for 2024 and 2025 were reportedly made on schedule. However, the club missed the April 15 deadline for the 2026 installment due to financial constraints.

On May 6, Rivaldo’s lawyers issued an official notice, seen by Kun.uz, warning that if the payment was not made within 48 hours, the restructuring terms would be canceled and they would request that FIFA demand full repayment plus penalties.

On May 14, FIFA issued a formal warning to Bunyodkor, stating that the debt must be settled within 30 days or the club will face a transfer ban.

The club’s press service said on May 7, 2026, that it had informed Uzbekneftegaz and the Uzbekistan Football Association about the situation.

According to a source cited by Kun.uz, Bunyodkor’s annual budget stands at around UZS 35 billion in state funds. The 2026 payment due to Rivaldo alone would account for roughly half of that amount, while authorities have reportedly prohibited the use of these funds for the Rivaldo debt.

Uzbekneftegaz, which previously sponsored the club, halted funding for football clubs on government instruction from January 1 and declined to cover the obligation, saying the debt remains the club’s responsibility.

Kun.uz has previously reported that hundreds of staff at Bunyodkor’s stadium have not received salaries since December.