Royal AM boss Shauwn Mkhize will pay striker Samir Nurkovic the amount of R12-million to avoid the two transfer windows ban, which stands at the moment.
The KwaZulu-Natal club saw their appeal to see their FIFA ban overturned thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, where Royal AM were hoping for a better outcome.
Royal AM did not agree on the FIFA ban and furnished their arguments by taking the matter to the CAS.
As that was the last resort to see the ruling swing in their favour, club president MaMkhize is now willing to pay Nurkovic the settlement to avoid the ban, according to iDiski Times sources.
Nurkovic was signed by Royal AM at the beginning of last season after he was released by Kaizer Chiefs, but seemingly arrived at the club carrying an injury, which was aggravated during the pre-season.
While the player was seen in full gear training with the club in pre-season, when Royal AM even released his pictures, the club argued – via lawyer Leruma Thobejane – that Nurkovic only set the foot at the ranch in September, when he also played against his former club in the Macufe Cup in Bloemfontein Celtic.
The club argued he only arrived mid-month of September, three months later than he was expected to, which – in their view – gave them the right, as per FIFA statutes to terminate his contract because he didn’t report for pre-season.
But both FIFA and CAS seem to agree with the arguments from Nurkovic’s lawyer Davor Lazic, which has left Royal AM in a precarious situation of not being able to register new players ahead of the 2023/24 season.
But to avoid the whole debacle that might have thrown Royal AM’s season into chaos, they are willing to pay Nurkovic the R12-million – the overall duration of his three-year contract.
It is why the club has kept Nkanyiso Zungu, who was released by Orlando Pirates, in their camp while they sort this issue out. They have also signed Sibusiso Sibeko, who was released by Marumo Gallants, but they can’t register him to the league at the moment.
This publication understands that Mkhize would have paid the money to Nurkovic by the time the window slams shut but it is not clear whether the club will settle the amount in full or in instalments.
Royal AM, as the season is looming large, are set to boost their finances hugely as they will earn a massive R9-million per season from Msunduzi Municipality, R27-million for the next three years, replacing Maritzburg United, who lost the sponsorship due to their relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
According to the publication, they are also plenty of changes that are set to take place behind the scenes at Royal AM as Mkhize is trying to close out all the shenanigans that have found her on the wrong side of the law by appointing a football person to address many issues.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
