Marat Omarov: "Football Clubs Should Operate Under Private Ownership"

14 July 2025, 15:32

KFF President Marat Omarov emphasized in his interview with the Qazsport TV channel that having football clubs operate under private ownership is a necessary step for the sustainable development of the industry. According to him, FCs "Astana," "Aktobe," and "Atyrau" are already on the privatization list, with potential investors currently exploring possible cooperation formats.

"Today, many football clubs are subsidized by the government budget. As you know, there are various opinions in society about this issue. The Prosecutor General's Office and other regulatory bodies have conducted inspections of football clubs. There are certainly many questions. As I mentioned earlier, on average, around 3 billion tenge was allocated annually, but these funds were mostly spent on foreign players and foreign specialists. Meanwhile, many football clubs lack infrastructure, academies, or even their own stadiums. This is not right.

Even if a club has a private investor, it still has assets. A club can attract investments, and other sponsors will follow. This is a global practice. Today, the most successful clubs are privately owned. Football has long been a business: television, advertising, and online platforms all generate income, and football has a huge audience. Therefore, having football clubs operate under private ownership is the right approach. Kazakhstan will also follow this path.

A list of clubs to be privatized has now been drawn up. Among them are 'Astana,' 'Aktobe,' and 'Atyrau.' Currently, potential investors are exploring the possibilities: various programs that can be implemented and investment methods. The KFF, of course, plays a role in helping to attract investors," said Marat Omarov.