Serbian striker Samir Nurkovic has sensationally won his dispute claiming a breach of contract against DStv Premiership side Royal AM following a protracted legal saga over several months.
Though Nurkovic signed a two-year contract with an option of a third year – as was first reported by KickOff in May last year – Royal AM then strangely claimed there was no valid contract and that the Serbian never appeared at the club after the striker filed his case with FIFA on November 7, 2022.
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Nurkovic was unveiled by the club, took part in pre-season training and even featured in the Macufe Cup before being offloaded without receiving any due financial compensation or playing an official game.
Royal terminated the player's contract on claims that Nurkovic was injured and sent him a letter of termination with a month's notice on September 23.
According to Nurkovic's lawyer Davor Lazic, who is based in Croatia, the decision made by FIFA is final.
"The decision of the FIFA Dispute Resolution, which is now final, is that Samir's claim has been accepted," Lazic tells KickOff.
"Basically, all the appeals and arguments of the club have been rejected and consequently the club was ordered to pay Samir the full amount of the contract which was for two years (this figure is known to KickOff).
"As we stated in our claim the club is liable because they haven't paid any monies to the player and the case is done.
"The appeal process available to the club (Royal AM) has passed and basically there is no other option for the club at this point than to pay what is owed to the player as per the claim.
"If they don't do that as of June 19 then the consequences will be applicable and that includes the club being banned from registering any new players until the due amount is paid.
"From now on they won't be able to sign any new players before the money owed to Samir is paid which is the full contract that he signed with interest.
"Beyond being banned from registering new players, if they continue persistently defying the order then there will be other fines imposed on the club like deduction of points.
"The ruling was made on April 27 and then distributed on May 3 which becomes the date from which the 45 days deadline comes into effect," explains Lazic.
Nurkovic last played in an official while at Chiefs against Mamelodi Sundowns back in May.
Recently, Marumo Gallants were forced to pay Kenyan international Ovella Ochieng over half a million rands after he took the club to FIFA for breach of contract.
Cameroon goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb also received R3 million after also taking Bloemfontein Celtic to the world governing body for another unfair dismissal case which dragged until his dues were recovered via the PSL grant.
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