Royal AM have scored a much-needed goal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended the transfer ban handed out to the club by Fifa.
The club, owned by the flamboyant KwaZulu-Natal businesswoman Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize, was banned by the world football governing body Fifa for not honouring the contract of Samir Nurkovic after he had signed for the club.
The club had been ordered by Fifa to pay the Serbian R12-million.
Nurkovic signed for the club after he was released by Kaizer Chiefs but he never played one official match for Royal AM.
His lawyer Davor Lazic reported the matter to Fifa, who ruled in Nurkovic’s favour and gave the club a transfer ban.
But MaMkhize’s side has been steadfast in its defence, through its lawyer Leruma Thobejane that they do not owe the Serbian anything.
On Wednesday, the club released a statement confirming CAS’ ruling.
“Royal AM is pleased to announce that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has officially notified the club, Samir Nurkovic and Fifa about the initiation of arbitration appeal proceedings,” reads a statement.
“These proceedings were lodged by Royal AM against the decisions rendered by Fifa. In a significant development, CAS informed all parties involved through correspondence received on Tuesday 11 July that the transfer ban was automatically uplifted and suspended immediately upon CAS’ admission of Royal AM FC’s appeal against the decisions rendered by Fifa.
“In line with protocol, Royal AM FC has referred the correspondence received from CAS to NSL/the league for verification and implementation.
“Royal AM FC confirm that the appeal was submitted to CAS simultaneously with an application for urgent provisional, preliminary and conservatory relief against the transfer ban.”
The matter will now go to arbitration and Royal AM believe they have a strong case.
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