Royal AM are still seeing blues in their struggle against FIFA's imposed transfer ban relating to Samir Nurkovic, which has been effective since last year.
Thwihli Thwahla's appeal efforts reached a dead end at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where FIFA's DRC ruling was upheld.
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This week, it will be two years since Nurkovic first lodged his breach of employment agreement claim at FIFA on November 8, 2022.
According to the 21-page arbitral award by CAS in the hands of this website, Nurkovic was only ever paid R245 943,91 by Royal AM on November 11, 2022 – which was three days after filing his case with the world governing body and seven weeks after playing in the Macufe Cup.
The Serbian must now be paid approximately R10,5 million to settle the case, and based on the latest information, no payment or arrangement has been made by Royal AM.
Nurkovic had agreed to a two-year deal with the option of a third year, which had no signing-on fees but came with gross monthly remuneration, which would have gone up by R20 000.
Besides the handsome salary, which is known to this publication, the contract included round trip air tickets to Belgrade each season, suitable accommodation, and bonuses according to the team scale.
However, as is already known, it didn't work out with Nurkovic claiming a gross total of R15,84 million (plus 5% interest per annum from the date each component fell due until the date of effective payment) in his case lodged before DRC of the FIFA Football Tribunal, citing breach of employment agreement without just cause.
On November 30, 2022, the club filed its reply, which primarily contested the jurisdiction of the FIFA DRC and the applicability of the various regulations of FIFA over the pertinent dispute.
Then, on April 27, 2023, FIFA passed its decision, stating that 'the Football Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear the claim and the player's claim is partially accepted' to the total of R9,9 million with 5% interest per annum.
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A transfer ban then came into effect on July 3, 2023, after the club's failure to comply, and two days later, they appealed at CAS while filing for the suspension of the transfer ban, which was thrown out.
With Royal AM's appeal at CAS inadmissible, the ruling that stands is that Nurkovic be paid all his dues as per the FIFA order with the club meeting the costs of arbitration, plus a further CHF 4000 (approx. R81 000) to the player as contribution towards his legal fees.
SAFA and PSL have since been informed.