Royal AM are unlikely to be kicked out of the Betway Premiership this season.
Recent reporting suggested the club potentially face being expelled from the South African top-flight over their unsettled bill with former striker Samir Nurkovic.
The Shauwn Mkhize-owned team are currently under a FIFA transfer ban over unpaid wages to the tune of R12 million reportedly owed to the Serbian hitman.
Their Diski Challenge side has already been removed from the reserve league after being unable to fulfil their fixtures as the club cannot register any new players.
It was thought that Royal AM could be handed a points deduction or simply face being booted from the league.
But Premier Soccer League chairman Irvin Khoza says the Betway Premiership must finish the season with 16 teams.
After announcing an increase in prize money for the Premiership winners, Khoza explained that while Royal AM will still potentially face sanctions, they are set to finish their campaign.
He was reported by IOL as saying: “In the days when I used to play, we used to play with seven players on the field. Even now it’s allowed, but it’s not good for the image of the game.
“But if we knew at the time we could have advised them. Because of the ban they had to write to SAFA to get an explanation that the ban is across the board — it affects all the structures of the club.
“We did also call the club into the office to make them aware of how best we can help because I always say to my member clubs [that] when I shake hands with the sponsors, I say to them, ‘I’ve got 16 teams in the Premier Division and 16 teams in the Motsepe Championship’.
“I cannot finish the season with 15 teams. That’s bad business. Even the media are vying on the 16-team league, even the supporters are planning on 16-team league. Everybody is planning around the 16-team league.
“It’s very important we finish the season with 16 teams. If this thing happens and somebody defaults in the process, not because of how the system works, it becomes problematic.”