Farrukh Marofiev says Khujand’s FIFA registration ban is temporary, with the Tajik club working to resolve a financial dispute involving Islom Toshpulatov.
Former Khujand director, and current manager of FC Eskhata since January, Farrukh Marofiev told Eurasia Football that the case began in the summer of 2025 when the Tajik club ended Toshpulatov’s contract early.
According to Marofiev, contracts signed with foreign players included a clause allowing either the club or the player to end the agreement during the summer or winter transfer window.
“We informed Islom that he was not part of the club’s plans for the second half of the season. However, he reported for pre-season training and suffered an injury. We used the clause in his contract to end the agreement, while also paying for his treatment and surgery,” Marofiev said.
He added that Toshpulatov filed a complaint with FIFA on 5 December 2025, with Khujand receiving official notice later that month and being asked to respond.
He added that the Uzbek midfielder initially sought around 120,000 Tajikistani somoni (approximately $13,000) in compensation.
Toshpulatov joined Khujand from Qizilqum in February 2024, going on to make 29 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and registering two assists before leaving in 2025.
As part of the case, Khujand submitted match reports, official broadcast footage and video recorded by the club for match analysis.
“The complaint included several personal accusations against me and former head coach Rustam Khodzhaev. It claimed the player had been made to train, play and travel with the team after his injury. We provided evidence to show that wasn’t true.”
After reviewing the case, FIFA ordered Khujand to pay Toshpulatov four months of unpaid wages, covering August to November 2025. Each monthly salary was worth 15,000 somoni (around $1,600), leaving the club owing a total of 60,000 somoni (approximately $6,500).
Marofiev believes FIFA took into account that Toshpulatov was left without a club after his injury and had not fully recovered, meaning the contract clause allowing the agreement to be ended early was not accepted in this situation.
He also revealed that FIFA imposed the three-window transfer ban at the end of February 2026, although it only became public much later.
Khujand offered to pay the money in three instalments, but Toshpulatov requested the full amount in one payment.
“The money is ready. The only thing left is a technical issue. He can either collect it in person or provide his bank details. I’m confident the debt will be paid within the next few days, and the transfer ban will then be lifted.”