Royal AM could find themselves bracing for another difficult season with none of their FIFA imposed transfer bans lifted just days as transfer deadline nears.
The club from KwaZulu-Natal is battling their way through the consequences of a registration ban related to Samir Nurkovic and Ricardo Nascimento.
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From having made social media fame by splashing cash in the public eye, Royal AM have now found themselves caught in contract disputes with Nurkovic and Nascimento that have now gone all the way to FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Thwihli Thwahla have not been able to conduct any incoming transfer business since July 3, 2023, when FIFA imposed the first sanction in a breach of contract case relating to Nurkovic.
In January this year, Royal AM were placed under further restrictions with another three-window transfer ban in Nascimento's matter.
The case relating to Nurkovic – who now plays for TS Galaxy – involves an amount of more than R10 million (with 5% interest per annum) and is now sitting with CAS after Royal AM paid the heavy appeal fee in the hope of having FIFA's initial award overturned.
CAS had extended the deadline of their decision from July 15 to September 13 after the case was heard on May 13 but have made no announcement just days before that date.
This has meant that FIFA still has Royal AM serving a three-window ban as of Monday, September 9.
The lighter of the two cases involving Nascimento has also failed to progress.
Nascimento took up his contract dispute against Royal AM to FIFA last year after failed attempts to resolve the matter amicably with the club.
The world governing body then ruled in favour of the defender with an award of R600 000 (effective September 2023 with an interest of 5% per annum).
However, Royal AM still didn't comply and were then subsequently handed a three-window transfer ban in January 2024.
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A year later, the matter has not been resolved but has been complicated by the fact that the agent who did the deal for the Brazilian defender (Marcelo Robalinho) now wants his 6% commission paid as well to settle the case.
The domestic transfer window closes on September 20 with Royal AM still losing players with Thato Lingwati, Menzi Masuku and Ruzaigh Gamildien having all left in this window after Tebogo Potsane, Lantshene Phalane, Happy Jele, Nascimento, Shaun Mogaila, Elias Pelembe and Tshepo Rikhotso all departed last season.