Supporters can donate as little as eight cents towards a $147,000 debt that has left Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent without electricity and disrupted local league broadcasts.
Uzbek football supporters are reportedly being asked to help clear a UZS 1.728 billion ($147,000) electricity bill at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent — home to a club that once attracted some of the biggest names in world football.
The Uzbekistan Professional Football League (PFL) backed the public fundraiser after the venue was disconnected from the grid on 4 September, according to Fergana news agency. The outlet initially referred to an X post from the PFL, which by the time of writing had apparently been deleted.
Donations start at eight US cents
The appeal was purportedly run by utility payments app DOMO. The charity section now accepts donations from UZS 1,000, or eight US cents. DOMO said the money would go to stadium electricity debt.
Read more: FC Bunyodkor faces FIFA transfer embargo over unpaid debt to Rivaldo
Previously, the power cut has affected more than the stadium’s floodlights. The PFL, whose offices are inside the complex, moved its staff to remote working.
The servers that distribute television and online feeds from Uzbekistan Super League and Pro League matches also stopped working. The league has switched to external servers but warned that broadcast quality could suffer.
From Rivaldo and Scolari to unpaid bills
FC Bunyodkor became one of Asian football’s most ambitious clubs after signing Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo in 2008. The team later appointed Luiz Felipe Scolari, who had led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, as head coach.
Read more: Uzbek football clubs ordered to settle debts to players and coaches
The Tashkent club won five Uzbek league titles between 2008 and 2013 and reached the Asian Champions League semi-finals twice.
In more recent years, financial problems have dominated its story. FIFA imposed a transfer embargo after Bunyodkor missed payments on debts owed to former Brazilian players Rivaldo and Denilson.
Local media say the Uzbekistan Football Association owns the stadium operator. State energy company Uzbekneftegaz stopped covering its running costs on January 1 after cutting non-core football spending.
Read more: Foreign investors consider buying football clubs in Uzbekistan
