The stringent processes and financial costs related to escalating their case from FIFA through to the Court of Arbitration for Sport could lead to Royal AM abandoning the Samir Nurkovic case.
While Samir Nurkovic already has a goal to his name through reviving his career at TS Galaxy, Royal AM remain banned from signing new players as per the order from FIFA.
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The transfer ban order came into effect in June after FIFA after Nurkovic won the case that he had taken to the global mother body after failed attempts to reach a settlement with Royal AM.
With the transfer ban, Royal AM have not been able to bring in new players and the effects of this have shown in their struggles as they remain third from bottom on the standings with a third of the season played.
John Maduka, who is the head coach, has had to negotiate his way without any new additions after losing Happy Jele, Ricardo Nascimento, Mthokozisi Dube, Elias Pelembe, Lantshene Phalane, Tshepo Rikhotso, and Tebogo Potsane.
In the meanwhile, Royal AM's procedural pursuit of the case with CAS is still frozen despite having previously stated that they have elevated the substance of the case to Lausanne, Switzerland.
To have the case heard and allocated a date, Royal AM had to schedule the arbitration costs of CHF 6750 (approx. R140 000) plus 0,60% of the amount under dispute which is now more than R10 million (plus 5% interest per annum).
There are other costs related to court office fee plus the arbitrators' fees.
As it stands, there is no case number and date from CAS relating to this matter which means Royal AM have either not put in the appeal or have not satisfied all appeal procedures.
So, with CAS not having the case in the register, it means Nurkovic's camp could now pursue other options to recover the money awarded by FIFA.
While the legal channels options that Royal AM could pursue are still in their courtyard without any appeal at CAS, the FIFA ruling stands.
In that case, Nurkovic's legal team could seek to recover the sum of the FIFA award via the PSL grant as was the case when Patrick Tignyemb two years ago after he won a similar case against Bloemfontein Celtic.
Nurkovic's camp can still motivate to FIFA that the transfer ban be augmented to a points deduction for now which will then have severe effects on Royal AM and lead to their relegation.
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The transfer ban remains a preliminary sanction and will only be lifted once Royal AM have made payment equivalent to the full worth of the contract that Nurkovic had signed plus interest and all legal costs.
Nurkovic's legal team has already declined the uplifting of the transfer ban without payment.
Before joining Galaxy, Nurkovic had gone 17 months without playing competitive football with his last appearance having been in the colours of Kaizer Chiefs on May 8, 2022, against Mamelodi Sundowns.