A complaint has been made against the Football Federation of Kazakhstan (KFF) to the judicial bodies of UEFA. Recently, the Football Federation of Kazakhstan has been increasingly criticised, particularly due to the activities and reputation of its president, Adilet Barmenkulov.
Not long ago, it became known that the Football Federation of Kazakhstan won a tender worth more than 9 million tenge for training coaches for the Karaganda football club 'Shakhter'. It was also reported that Barmenkulov had previously served as chairman of the board of directors of 'Shakhter'.
The media expressed bewilderment that the KFF not only participates in such procurements but also wins them. There is nothing criminal about a regional football club being willing to spend a significant amount of its budget on coach training. The only question concerns the integrity of the provider, for whom the contract with 'Shakhter' may be just another way to make some money.
Meanwhile, according to insider information, two of the top football clubs have filed a complaint with the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body against the head of the Football Federation of Kazakhstan.
In addition, it is reported that the KFF is suspected of lobbying for the interests of one of the numerous betting companies.
It is worth noting that the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) is a fairly serious independent judicial body, consisting of a chairman, two vice-chairmen and seven other members.
The exact reason why the football clubs collectively complained to the CEDB is unknown. However, given the constant scandals during matches of the Kazakh Premier League clubs, the actions of the refereeing team and the clubs controlled by Barmenkulov are likely causing a number of grievances not only among fans but also among the players themselves.
The reputation of the KFF president has long raised many questions. In 2022, information spread online that Adilet Barmenkulov, who at that time held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakhmys Corporation LLP and General Director of Kazakhmys Smelting, was mentioned in a criminal case regarding robbery.
According to media reports, in response to a request from journalists, the Prosecutor General's Office did not deny the criminal past of the current head of the Football Federation of Kazakhstan, and did not disclose the details of the criminal case, citing the law on the protection of personal data.
But, if these are internal matters of our country that concern only us, then the aforementioned escalation of the KFF's actions to the international level creates a different situation.
As of today, at least nine people from UEFA's judicial bodies somewhere in the world capital of football are deciding whether there is corruption in Kazakh football. It is highly likely that the CEDB members will review the recordings of past matches. All we can do now is hope that Barmenkulov's activities do not bring global shame upon our country.