Royal AM to dispute FIFA ruling on Samir Nurkovic at CAS

According to his legal counterpart Davor Lazic, who represents Nurkovic, the Durban-based team missed the deadline to make payment in the region of R12-million after the world football governing body punished them for prematurely terminating Nurkovic’s two-year contract. 

“The latest is that we are still waiting for the award with motivated reasons from FIFA – then we will have 21 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). We believe we have a solid case,” Thobejane said. 

Nurkovic signed for Royal AM this time last year, but was later served with a 30-day notice in which the club informed him of their intention to terminate the agreement on the basis he had absconded from work. 

“The first day of work was 1 July, and on this date Mr Nurkovic did not show up at work. On 3 July, he sends a WhatsApp message to the team manager asking for the location of where the club will hold a camp in Pretoria from 4-10 July," detailed Thobjeane on Metro FM's Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube.

"He is given the location, visits the camp for some days and then he leaves and his reasoning is that he is sick or has an injury."

Fast forward to the present day and FIFA have since issued an award informing the club to pay Nurkovic after he dragged Royal AM to their tribunal. 

But Thobejane insists he never received communication of the ruling until May 22 as opposed to Lazic, who confirmed to the public broadcaster that he received the outcome 19 days earlier – giving him an edge, Thobejane argued.  

“The problem is that the award issued by FIFA is based on Samir’s so-called version of events that he was at Royal AM and sidelined from playing. 

"We are arguing that [FIFA took sides]. We are putting in the facts, which includes communication with Samir. 

"I disputed the 19 June payment date, but then got a message to phone a gentleman at FIFA, even though I have never received any correspondence from them. 

"I don’t know how he knew I was on radio disputing the date – unless he is handled from somewhere, it’s not a coincidence there were things done without us knowing. 

"I am disputing that this process has not been fair because of the conduct from FIFA,” concluded Thobejane.