Royal AM Faces Another Setback as CAS Reschedules FIFA Ban Ruling

Royal AM’s ongoing saga with FIFA has hit another roadblock. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has now set a new date, 11 October, to rule on whether the ban imposed by FIFA will be overturned. This decision comes after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) club, owned by Shauwn Mkhize, approached the Switzerland-based tribunal to reverse FIFA’s verdict.

At the heart of the issue is Royal AM’s refusal to pay former striker Samir Nurkovic a settlement of R12 million. Along with Nurkovic, defender Ricardo Nascimento is also owed money by the club. As a result of these unpaid dues, Royal AM is under a FIFA-imposed transfer ban until the payments are made. This embargo means the club cannot register any new players during the current PSL transfer window, which has now closed.

Royal AM’s legal representative, Leruma Thobejane, previously indicated on Metro FM that CAS was expected to make a ruling in their favour by 15 September, suggesting that the case’s merits supported their stance. However, Nurkovic’s lawyer, Davor Lazic, countered this optimism, cautioning that the case could drag on for a much longer period, possibly a year. Lazic’s prediction has now come true, with CAS confirming the delayed decision date.

The delay leaves coach John Maduka in a tough spot, as the club will have to soldier on without any fresh signings, even though several players have exited the squad. Compounding their woes, the club has also failed to fulfil their recent DStv Diski Challenge fixtures due to a lack of players in their youth academy, a direct consequence of the FIFA ban, which also impacts their junior teams.

This development further extends the uncertainty surrounding Royal AM’s future as they continue to battle both on and off the field.