Kazakhstani football clubs are gradually coming under the control of private investors. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced that the process of privatising football clubs and their infrastructure is already in an active phase.
According to Informburo.kz, the head of government reminded that earlier President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to accelerate the privatisation of the country's football clubs. It is noted that the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, together with the Kazakhstan Football Federation and regional akimats, is conducting negotiations with potential investors.
According to Bektenov, JSC 'Central Asian Fuel and Energy Company' is considering the possibility of acquiring FC 'Kyzyl-Zhar'. JSC 'Freedom Finance' plans to build a stadium and football academy for FC 'Shakhter'.
JSC 'Kaspi Group' intends to acquire FC 'Zhenis' and develop football infrastructure in Astana. An investor from Kyzylorda — LLP 'TAU GROUP LTD' — has expressed interest in FC 'Kaisar'. Additionally, the ministry is in talks with investors regarding the clubs 'Taraz', 'Yelimay' and 'Irtysh'.
Bektenov also reported that the government is updating the comprehensive privatisation plan for football clubs for 2021–2025. The draft resolution will be sent for approval to the relevant bodies in the near future.
In the current year, the cabinet of ministers allocated 34.9 billion tenge for the development of football, of which 31.8 billion tenge was directed towards supporting professional clubs in the premier and first leagues, and 3.1 billion tenge for the development of youth and mass football.
According to state auditors, in 2021–2025, commissions carried out more than 12 inspections, during which they identified over 100 violations — ranging from misuse of funds to duplicate services. Particular attention was paid to the clubs 'Aktobe' and 'Kyzyl-Zhar', where auditors recorded corruption schemes and the misuse of more than 250 million tenge.
According to amendments coming into force from 2026, the law 'On Physical Culture and Sport' prohibits the financing of foreign athletes using state and quasi-state funds. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport has also set limits on the financing of clubs from local budgets and instructed akimats to more actively attract private investment.