In previous parts, we highlighted the scale of corruption in Kazakh football — ranked 4th in the world for match-fixing according to Sportradar.
Mazhilis deputy Abzal Kuspan revealed the mechanism of using sports federations for corrupt schemes involving ministers and heads of law enforcement agencies.
We examined specific instances of championship buying in the Kazakhstan Premier League (KPL) in recent years, where each title win had its own detective story involving sums, methods, and participants.
Despite official recognition of the corruption problem, international data, and public admissions from participants, the system continues to function without fundamental changes.
A key role in resisting reforms is played by Sayann Khamitzhanov — a Kazakh sports official who managed Astana Football Club, served as General Secretary and Vice-President of the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF), and since 2025 has held the post of Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, overseeing football development.
KHAMITZHANOV AS A SYMBOL OF THE OLD SYSTEM
Sayann Khamitzhanov embodies an era when corrupt schemes in Kazakh football reached a systemic nature. Under his leadership, FC Astana became national champions five times and reached the group stage of the Champions League, but it was during this period that the largest corrupt schemes in national football flourished.
His influence over the refereeing body and clubs remains significant even after his formal departure from the KFF. According to the Telegram channel 'Sayann's Headphones', despite the change in leadership at the Kazakhstan Football Federation, matches involving Astana this season continue to feature controversial refereeing decisions.
In the match Astana — Okzhetpes, nearly all football experts and journalists labelled the game fixed. After the match, Erlan Dzhamentaev — a former club director and a person close to Khamitzhanov — entered the Okzhetpes dressing room. Dzhamentaev previously held key posts in the KFF and at Aktobe club.
Soon after, head coach Andrey Ferapontov left the team of his own accord. Experts link his resignation to the regional administration's displeasure over the result being 'thrown' to Astana.
INFORMATIONAL RESISTANCE TO REFORMS
Media coverage of processes in Kazakh football is complicated by political interests. The resource Sports.kz, affiliated with Khamitzhanov's influence group, portrays the actions of the new federation team under Marat Omarov as ineffective.
This creates distrust towards reforms and sustains the illusion that things were better under the old system. The information war between influence groups masks the lack of real change and discredits attempts at renewal.
A telling example was referee Denis Tevyashov's refusal to officiate Astana games due to pressure. Former KPL players — Pavel Yakovlev, Zhambyl Kukeyev, Anton Zemlyanukhin and others — have publicly stated they received orders to hand games to Astana.
A SYSTEM OF MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY
Analysis of the situation reveals a systemic crisis affecting all levels of sports organisation. The corrupt schemes built under Khamitzhanov involve players, referees, and officials, creating a system of mutual responsibility.
Each participant in the system becomes hostage to compromising material on other participants. This ensures the stability of the corrupt model — no one has an interest in real change, as it threatens everyone.
Satellite clubs previously dependent on Khamitzhanov continue to operate according to old schemes. Referees who worked 'for him' retain influence in the system, and regional federations remain under the control of trusted individuals.
IMITATING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
The federation under Marat Omarov acknowledges the systemic nature of corrupt schemes and declares it is fighting them. UEFA is expanding cooperation with Sportradar, integrity officers have been introduced, and plans to tighten liability are being developed.
However, all measures exist primarily on paper. VAR, integrity officers, and the Sportradar monitoring system operate formally. Referees, clubs, and the federation avoid real accountability for obvious violations.
The main problem is the lack of witnesses and victims willing to testify against Khamitzhanov's system. Mechanisms of intimidation and interdependence block investigations.
A POLITICAL SCENARIO FOR DISMANTLING THE SYSTEM
Radical change is only possible with a full-scale political strike against Khamitzhanov and his entire network. Such a scenario would involve creating a parliamentary commission with real powers, comprising deputies, lawyers, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Anti-Corruption Service, and the Prosecutor General's Office.
The investigation would require providing evidence: lists of fixed matches, transcripts of negotiations with referees and Khamitzhanov, and financial transactions. This would lead to the initiation of criminal cases and the freezing of accounts.
Such an approach would allow Khamitzhanov to be formally removed from any posts in sport, personally accused of organising match-fixing schemes, and cemented in the media as the main symbol of 'corrupt football'.
RESISTANCE FROM THE OLD SYSTEM
However, implementing such a scenario faces serious resistance. Khamitzhanov's influence over clubs and referees persists, even through trusted individuals. His position as advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Sports provides a degree of protection from direct attacks.
Controversial decisions in matches this season show that the system continues to operate according to old algorithms. In the games Atyrau — Astana, Kaisar — Astana, and Aktobe — Astana, refereeing decisions have raised reasonable suspicions of bias.
Journalist Erbol Kairov directly called Khamitzhanov 'the main scriptwriter of Kazakh football', who 'still cannot be removed'. Among the dubious matches, he highlighted Kyzylzhar — Turan, Astana — Okzhetpes, and the 2022 Kazakhstan Cup final Ordabasy — Akzhayik.
INTERNATIONAL RISKS AND REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE
Alongside the Khamitzhanov problem, there is an international dimension. Kairat Boranbayev, despite a criminal conviction for embezzlement, maintains ties with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and remains an influential figure in sport.
If Almaty's Kairat, associated with Boranbayev, reaches the group stage of the Champions League, it would be a reputational disaster. European media would have cause for headlines about a club linked to individuals convicted of corruption.
BALANCE OF POWER IN A NEW CONFIGURATION
If Khamitzhanov's system were successfully dismantled, the balance of power in Kazakh football would change radically. Marat Omarov would gain a free hand to 'clean up football' and strengthen control over the KFF, earning international credit with FIFA and UEFA.
New regional investors could pick up some of the weakened clubs, expanding the presence of private capital. Representatives of business structures could position themselves as 'clean candidates' for future governing bodies.
THE INEVITABILITY OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE
Kazakh football is stuck in a corruption trap. Despite huge budget injections, the country shows catastrophically poor results and holds an international anti-record for match-fixing.
As long as figures from the old system retain influence and international scandals are ignored, reforms remain a pretence. Only a systemic dismantling of the corrupt network and political will at the highest level can turn fair play from an exception into the norm.