Royal AM’s attempts to gain promotion off the field have once again hit another blow.
The Kwa-Zulu Natal club are still fighting the fact that Sekhukhune United were crowned GladAfrica Championship winners after advocate Hilton Epstein ruled they must receive three points from their game against Polokwane City in January.
Polokwane had initially won the game but didn’t have enough U23 players in their squad following some Covid-19 cases. Sekhukhune had played the game under protest and overtook Royal AM on the log after the Epstein ruling – which came out before the final round of fixtures were played.
Royal AM, though, have continued to fight the ruling in courts and did not take to field in the following playoff fixtures.
They now suffered another defeat in court after Judge J. Windell dismissed their application to hold the NSL (the Premier Soccer League’s trading name) in contempt.
Royal AM also wanted PSL acting CEO Mato Madlala imprisoned because the playoffs went ahead despite a “court interdict”.
“The relief Royal AM seeks runs contrary to the previous findings of this court and is not supported by the facts or the law,” reads today’s ruling by Judge J. Windell.
“The interdictory relief granted by Nyathi AJ in paragraph 3 came to an end when Sutherland DJP refused leave to appeal on 18 June 2021. Paragraph 2 of the order of Nyathi AJ did not have the effect of reinstating Royal AM to the top of the GladAfrica Championship and has been suspended by the NSL’s application for leave to appeal.
“The Epstein award is binding and Royal AM’s application for leave against the dismissal of the review did not have the effect of suspending the Epstein award.
“Royal AM’s application is without merit and must be dismissed. In the result the following order is made: The application is dismissed with costs, including the costs of two counsel where so employed.”