Striker Samir Nurkovic's complicated spell at DStv Premiership side Royal AM has come to a premature end with the Serbian lodging an official complaint to FIFA regarding his contractual dispute with the club.
Nurkovic signed for Royal AM back in May in a deal that came to effect on July 1, immediately after the expiry of his contract at Kaizer Chiefs, ending a three-year spell at Naturena.
However, in a disappointing turn of events with his new employers, the Serbian's move has turned sour to the extent that he has departed without allegedly either receiving any of his earnings in accordance to his contract or featuring in a single competitive match in the DStv Premiership, MTN8, or CAF Confederation Cup.
Nurkovic made a solitary appearance in the Macufe Cup against former club Kaizer Chiefs.
The 30-year-old's legal representative, Davor Lazic has made several claims against Royal AM in seeking a resolution to the ongoing financial dispute that has turned ugly.
"We have filed a case as of today (November 7) because we waited without a response besides the one that we got on September 23 stating that the club has taken a decision to terminate the player's contract," Lazic, who is based in Zagreb, Croatia tells KickOff.
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"The player is no longer with Royal AM because they terminated his contract after sending a letter with a month's notice on September 23.
"It is a matter now before FIFA's dispute resolution committee.
"Royal AM have not made payment of a single Rand to my client and in that regard, we sent them a letter after three months as a notice in relation to breach of contract.
"However, they didn't respond, but then chose to state that the player has been on sick leave since the beginning of his employment contract, and they have taken the decision to terminate his contract.
"What is interesting is that this happened on Friday, September 23 yet two days later he played in the cup game (Macufe Cup).
"He was then given one month's notice which he further respected by training at his best and they still haven't paid him anything.
"So, from July 1 until today he was never paid anything and there was no other option to take than take the matter to FIFA.
"He didn't want to terminate the contract, but the club terminated the contract without just cause.
"This is a breach of contract without just cause and basically the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber is the one in charge of it now.
"Once the decision is made by FIFA it will then be public from then on," says Lazic.
Nurkovic last played in an official game while at Chiefs against Mamelodi Sundowns back in May.
Though he signed a contract with Royal AM, there hasn't been any clarity provided on whether the Serbian was registered with the PSL.
In a similar case, Marumo Gallants were forced to pay Kenyan international Ovella Ochieng over R500 000 after lodging a case of wrongful termination with FIFA for breach of contract.
Cameroon goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb also received around R3 million after also taking Bloemfontein Celtic to the world governing body in another case of unfair dismissal which was settled when his owed amount was reimbursed via the PSL grant.
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