Royal AM’s latest appeal on Samir Nurkovic settlement dismissed

It has emerged that the KwaZulu-Natal outfit approached the Premier Soccer League Dispute Resolution Chamber on an urgent basis in what the player’s lawyer said was another effort to “significantly reduce the amount payable”.

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Royal AM were handed a transfer ban by world football governing body FIFA in July last year for unlawfully terminating their contract with Nurkovic after just three months having signed the striker as a free agent from Kaizer Chiefs in 2022 and agreeing to pay him R420 000 a month.

To date, the club has failed to settle the figure even after dragging the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] but failing to have the decision overturned.

Speaking exclusively to the public broadcaster, attorney Davor Lazic provided an update since the tribunal ruling in October.

“No payments have been made so far, hence we are going with it in 2025. The only news is that earlier this month we had a proceeding before the National Soccer League Dispute Resolution Chamber regarding the same issue following the club's “urgent” application. Unsurprisingly, the chamber declared the club’s application inadmissible and rejected all relief sought by the Club. If no payments are made, we plan to proceed with further legal steps early next year,” he explained.

Royal AM now face the possibility of being docked points by FIFA and possibly being declared bankrupt, which means they will cease to exit.

Lazic believes the latest appeal was a ploy for the club to find a way to cut down the R15-million Nurkovic, now a SuperSport United player, is still waiting for.

“They requested the NSL DRC to recalculate the amounts owed under FIFA’s final and binding award. Their aim was to significantly reduce the amount payable, avoid paying taxes, and settle a net amount instead of the gross amount, among other questionable proposals – again, these tactics are unlike anything I’ve encountered in my career,” the lawyer elaborated.