CAS ruling may be final in nail in Royal AM coffin in Samir Nurkovic saga

Royal AM’s appeal to have their FIFA transfer ban overturned has reportedly been thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Shauwn Mkhize’s Royal AM had approached CAS to try and overturn the transfer ban that was handed down to them by FIFA after they failed to pay the salaries of forward Samir Nurkovic and defender Ricardo Nascimento.

The KwaZulu-Natal side owe Nurkovic R12 million in wages after the club terminated his contract. As a result, they haven’t been able to sign any new players for over a year, which has necessitated them playing their chairman Andile Mpisane in midfield.

SABC reported that the tribunal has now dismissed Royal Am’s appeal, and once again ordered them to comply with the FIFA ruling and settle the amount owed to Nurkovic.

The reported ruling could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back after Royal AM were booted from the DStv Diski Challenge after they failed to field a team during the reserve team competition.

“Royal AM Football Club has been unable to field a team in the 2024/25 DStv Diski Challenge competition due to a FIFA registration ban,” the PSL said in a statement on Friday.

“After reviewing the facts and representations presented by the club this week, the PSL Executive Committee has resolved to halt Royal AM Football Club's participation in the 2024/25 DStv Diski Challenge competition.”

Royal AM next face Cape Town City FC in the Telkom Knockout on Saturday night, before turning their attention to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership next Wednesday.

@JohnGoliath82