Royal AM's piling concerns have left them with a 20 000 Swiss Francs (approx. R414 000) debt in matters relating to their long dragging case against Samir Nurkovic.
With troubles relating to their return to training and SARS still pending, the issue of Nurkovic continues to push Royal AM's back against the ropes.
READ: Approval for Ngezana amid transfer talk
The club – who have served a three-window FIFA imposed transfer ban – lost its appeal at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) in October but have yet to pay the Serbian marksman.
Based on the CAS award in possession of KickOff.com, Royal AM had to pay the player approximately R10,5 million as of November 2024 as per FIFA's award before the cost of arbitration to be determined by the CAS Court Office and other costs.
The former Kaizer Chiefs man had initially claimed R15,8 million.
"On November 27 last year, we asked FIFA to issue a new decision relating to the non-payment," says Nurkovic's legal representative Davor Lazic, Attorney-at-Law, Davor Lazic Attorneys, Zagreb, Croatia.
"FIFA then confirmed on December 20 that the club (Royal AM) should still pay all the money owed to Samir with the 5% interest and all other legal costs related.
"I can confirm that they must now pay an additional 20 000 Swiss (approx. R414 000) fine to FIFA because of their failure to respect FIFA's decision.
"The deadline for making payment is next week (January 20) and if they don't pay again by then, I will ask FIFA again for further sanctions, which will include points deduction.
"This is the fifth decision that has gone against Royal AM, who also engaged SAFA and the PSL's dispute resolution to revisit FIFA's decision asking the amount to be paid to be reduced based on their reasoning.
"This approach was dismissed as the FIFA decision is final and binding.
"Our interest remains on our client being paid all his dues," explains Lazic.
Nurkovic's package at Royal AM for the first year was R5 040 000 (July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023), then R5 280 000 for the second year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024) and R5 520 000 for the optional third year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025).
However, he was only ever paid R245 943,91 on November 11, 2022, which was three days after filing his claim with FIFA and seven weeks after playing in the Macufe Cup.
READ: 'I bought a new car to celebrate signing with Sundowns'
This information is contained in the 21-page arbitral award by CAS, which classified Royal AM's appeal at CAS as inadmissible with all other and further motions and prayers for relief dismissed.
Nurkovic has since played for TS Galaxy and is now at SuperSport United while this case continues.