Samir Nurkovic‘s legal team has accused Royal AM of misleading the public regarding their ongoing legal battle.
The dispute centers around a R12 million debt owed to Nurkovic, a former striker for the KwaZulu-Natal club. After winning the case at FIFA, Royal AM was hit with a transfer ban for refusing to pay. The club has since appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Royal AM’s refusal to pay resulted in a FIFA-imposed transfer ban that continues to cripple the club’s ability to sign new players. In a recent media interview with Andile Ncube on Sports Night Amplified, the club’s lawyer Leruma Thobejane expressed optimism about an impending CAS ruling that could overturn the transfer ban.
However, Nurkovic’s attorney Davoc Lazic has dismissed these claims. In an interview with SABC Sport, Lazic stated that CAS proceedings often take months, if not years, to conclude. He emphasized the rigorous review process involved and the likelihood of further delays.
“My learned colleague’s statement that CAS awards are rendered within 45 days of the hearing is simply incorrect. Typically, there are several postponements, and it generally takes a few months to a year to receive an award from CAS,” he explained.
He added, “CAS is a serious institution, and each award undergoes multiple levels of review within CAS itself before reaching the parties involved. Therefore, it is common for decisions to be postponed several times, especially during the Olympic Games and summer when much of the staff is engaged in other tasks.”
Lazic also criticized Thobejane for publicly discussing details of the confidential CAS case, arguing that such actions could harm the club’s reputation.
“The fact that the club’s lawyer continues to publicly comment on confidential CAS hearings is, in my opinion, quite unacceptable. In my practice, I would never adopt such an approach, especially not by publicly discussing details of confidential arbitration proceedings, as this can only harm the club’s reputation and position,” he explained.
The situation has been exacerbated by a second transfer ban imposed on Royal AM for breaching a contract with defender Ricardo Nascimento. The club is now prohibited from registering new players for six transfer windows.
As the legal battle drags on, the financial burden and reputational damage to both parties continue to mount.