More signs of Karimova's fall from grace? Scolari is leaving Tashkent's Bunyodkor
By Luke Allnutt
Another sign perhaps that Gulnara Karimova's empire is crumbling [Gulnara is a controversial Uzbek businesswoman, an elder daughter of the President of Uzbekistan, Islom Karimov].
The former Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, rumored to be the highest paid football manager in the world, is leaving the Tashkent club, Bunyodkor.
Scolari said the club wanted to reduce costs and had suggested cutting short his contract, which was due to run until December.
"If we reach an agreement, I'll will be free to decide my future," Scolari said in a telephone interview from Tashkent.
Bunyodkor is owned by Zeromax, the company widely tied to the Uzbek president's daughter, Karimova. In recent weeks, there have been reports that Zeromax is winding down its operations.
For more on Bunyodkor's grasp for fame, see RFE/RL correspondent Kevin O'Flynn's piece in "The Observer" last year.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty © 2010 RFE/RL, Inc.
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