Royal AM facing FIFA ban after missing R12m payment deadline

SABC Sport reported last week the Durban-based outfit was given until this past Monday to settle the debt enforced by the world governing body for terminating the player’s contract prematurely. 

Nurkovic had initially joined Royal AM in July 2022 on a free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs for two seasons. 

But the club owned by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize failed to pay the first three months of his salary and subsequently claimed Nurkovic had been injured, moving quickly to try to terminate the agreement within 30 days. 

The player’s attorney, Davor Lazic, then confirmed the matter had been referred to FIFA, who have since ordered Royal AM to pay Nurkovic the duration of the contract, the agent fees as well as other outstanding matters with interest. 

Lazic told the public broadcaster on Thursday his client was still waiting for the monies owed. 

“No, the payment is still not made. We will now certainly submit the case to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and ask for the ban to be implemented,” he explained. 

Royal AM are likely to either be issued with a transfer ban of at least two years or docked points in the coming season as witnessed in other cases of a similar nature decided by the world football governing body tribunal. 

Neither Mkhize, the club’s media team nor their attorneys have issued any public statement regarding the case.