Uzbekistan has embarked on a privatization initiative for its football clubs. The State Assets Management Agency recently announced the sale of the entire state share of Pakhtakor Football Club. 

Conditions for Potential Buyers

The privatization plan comes with specific conditions for potential buyers. Those acquiring the football club are required to commit to:

Elevating Club Activities: Buyers must maintain, develop, and bring the activities of the football club to an international level.

Exclusive Use of Sports Facilities: The use of all sports facilities, including the football field, should be solely for the purposes of sports activities.

Supporting the Club Academy: Buyers are expected to maintain and develop the activities of the Pakhtakor football club academy.

Two-Stage Sale Process

The sale of the state share is structured into two stages:

Qualification Stage: Applicants are pre-qualified based on document completeness, adherence to business concept project requirements, absence from sanctions lists, and financial viability.

Evaluation Stage: Commercial offers, including purchase price, payment period, and zakat money (at least 5% of the price offer), are evaluated.

Pakhtakor Football Club: A Sporting Institution

"Pakhtakor" is a distinguished professional football club in Uzbekistan, with a rich history dating back to 1956. The club holds a significant land area of 24.1 hectares, featuring a built-up area of 83,332.73 square meters and a useful area of 24,262.57 square meters. Currently, the asset is part of the state unitary enterprise "Municipal Asset Management Center."

The move to privatize Pakhtakor aligns with a broader decision by the Uzbek government in March 2023. The privatization strategy extends beyond Pakhtakor, encompassing other football clubs such as "Bukhara," "Nasaf," "Mash'al," "Lokomotiv," "Almalik," "Metallurg," "Bunyodkor," "Shortan," "Navbahor Falcons," and "Dinamo Plus."

The privatization initiative is a response to recommendations from the Asian Football Confederation, emphasizing the need to diversify ownership in football clubs. This shift aims to foster a healthy competitive environment in line with international sporting principles.

Dior Imomkhojaev, the director of the Professional Football League of Uzbekistan, emphasizes the gradual transition from state financing to a market-driven mechanism by 2030. The move is seen as essential to align Uzbekistan's football sector with international standards and principles. 

While Pakhtakor is positioned as the first football club in line for privatization, challenges exist with investors for other clubs like "Nasaf" and "Bunyodkor." Transparency is considered a crucial factor in the sales process to attract potential investors.