THE PAKHTAKOR-79 TRAGEDY: ITS IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT TRAJECTORY OF UZBEK FOOTBALL IN THE USSR TOP LEAGUE (1979-1991)

Abstract

On August 11, 1979, the collision of two TU-134 aircraft over Dneprodzerzhinsk resulted in the deaths of 17 members of the "Pakhtakor" football team, profoundly impacting the development trajectory of Uzbek football in the USSR Top League. This article analyzes the short- and long-term consequences of the tragedy from 1979 to 1991. The study focuses on "Pakhtakor"’s pre-disaster achievements (a 4-game winning streak in 1979, 9:2 aggregate score), the rapid reformation of the team (the USSR Football Federation’s 3-year exemption policy, 1979-1982 results), and long-term effects (slowed development of local talent and weakened Uzbek representation in the league). Through statistical analysis, historical documents, and comparisons with other USSR teams, the impact on Uzbek football’s competitiveness, infrastructure, and national reputation is assessed. The findings indicate that "Pakhtakor"’s potential successes (participation in European competitions, contention for the USSR championship) were not only lost, but the tragedy also reduced Uzbek players’ presence in the USSR national team and hindered the growth of young local talents (e.g., Sirojiddin Bazarov, Ravil Agishev). Although the reformed team’s 6th-place finish in 1982 and Andrey Yakubik’s top scorer title signal partial recovery, the overall trajectory shifted significantly. The article identifies lost opportunities for Uzbek football and suggests directions for future research.