Former UFA official: I refuse to be part of this circus

Sherzod Egamberdiyev, former head of the national teams department of the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA), has made a strong statement amid reports that the UFA is negotiating with Fabio Cannavaro to become the head coach of the national team. He expressed his thoughts on his Instagram page.

’’It was very difficult and painful for me to leave this team. But under such circumstances, it was impossible to stay. We have come a long way together with this team. We deserved better treatment,’’ Egamberdiyev wrote.

He also likened the current situation surrounding the national team to a circus.

’’Could I have quietly agreed and accepted everything? Yes, I could have, for rewards, a trip to the US, and beautiful photos. However, I love this team very much, and I have a deep respect for my country. That’s why I said no. I did not want to be part of this circus,’’ he said.

It should be stated that Sherzod Egamberdiyev announced his resignation on September 9 this year through his social media page.

The UFA leadership has been searching for a new head coach for the national team for some time. Before Fabio Cannavaro, the names of Paulo Bento, Fatih Terim, and Joachim Low were also considered. However, both Joachim Low and Paulo Bento declined the offer to lead the Uzbekistan national team.

Currently, the team is managed by Timur Kapadze, who previously confirmed at a press conference ahead of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 that the UFA intends to appoint an experienced specialist who has participated in the World Cup to lead the squad.

Earlier, it was reported that the Uzbekistan Football Association had reached a verbal agreement with Fabio Cannavaro regarding the position of head coach of the national team. The international media outlets wrote that the 52-year-old specialist’s salary, including coaching expenses, would amount to approximately €4 million per year.

Following these rumors, the UFA issued an official statement for the first time, confirming that negotiations were indeed being held with Fabio Cannavaro for the head coach position. The Association also urged media representatives not to rely on unofficial and unverified reports circulating on social networks.