The long-drawn case involving Royal AM and Samir Nurkovic has left the troubled KwaZulu-Natal club with an escalating bill due to the Serbian.
Nurkovic has fought a breach of employment agreement without just cause case against Royal AM since first filing his claim at FIFA's DRC on November 8, 2022.
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Royal AM have since had their appeal at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) classified as inadmissible.
According to the arbitral award by CAS, the club must pay the costs of the arbitration as determined and served by the CAS Court Office and pay CHF 4,000 (approximately R82 500) to Nurkovic as contribution towards his legal fees and other expenses incurred in connect with the arbitration proceedings.
Considering that on April 27, 2023, Nurkovic's claim was partially accepted by the FIFA DRC with 5% interest per annum, what is due to him is now almost R11,1 million with interest.
The upheld decision contained in the arbitral award states that:
-On 27 April 2023, a decision was passed by the FIFA DRC on the matter at hand (the "Appealed Decision") with, inter alia, the following operative part:
"1. The Football Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear the claim of the [Player].
2. The claim of the [Player] is partially accepted.
3. The [Club] must pay to the [Player] the following amount(s):
- ZAR 1,260,000 as outstanding remuneration plus interest p.a. as follows:
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of ZAR 420,000 as from 1 August 2022 until the date of effective payment; now R472 696,875
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of ZAR 420,000 as from 1 September 2022 until the date of effective payment; now R470 767,50
- 5% interest p.a. over the amount of ZAR 420,000 as from 24 October 2022 until the date of effective payment; now R468 838,125
- ZAR 8,640,000 as compensation for breach of contract without just cause plus 5% interest p.a. as from 8 November 2022 until the date of effective payment".
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Nurkovic's total claim, which was partially accepted, had been at R15,8 million.
Beyond all other costs related to the case, Royal AM must also pay CHF 20 000 (approx. R412 000) as a FIFA-imposed fine for failure to comply with FIFA's decision upheld by CAS.
Royal AM have had failed attempts to have amount due to Nurkovic trimmed down.