Royal AM's transfer blues to stretch all season again?
Royal AM coach John Maduka's worries could stretch all season with his bosses at the club still having unresolved FIFA issues.
The FIFA transfer ban imposed on Royal AM in the matter relating to Ricardo Nascimento is facing the possibility of running all season.
This will then leave the KwaZulu-Natal club without the option of doing transfer business for the second season.
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The issue at hand is that Nascimento took up his contract dispute against Royal AM to FIFA last year after failed attempts to resolve the matter amicably with the club.
FIFA then ruled in favour of the now retired defender with an award of R600 000 (effective September 2023 with an interest of 5% per annum).
However, after Royal AM chose not to comply with the world governing body’s ruling, they were subsequently handed a three-window transfer ban, which came into effect on January 15, 2024.
As it stands, the matter remains unresolved with Nascimento’s agent (Marcelo Robalinho), who did the deal for the Brazilian now demanding his 6% commission for the deal to settle the case.
"There is nothing until now," confirms Pedro Felipe Gomes da Silva, partner of RA Law firm based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, who represent Nascimento.
According to FIFA’s latest registration bans list, the three-window ban (effective January 15, 2024) remains in place.
This means without a solution in this matter, Royal AM will still not be able to make any signings during the next transfer window (January).
Royal AM also still have a multi-million Rand worth case pending against Samir Nurkovic.
The striker took up his breach of contract case with FIFA after failing to reach an agreement over a settlement for the contract he signed after joining the side from Kaizer Chiefs two years ago.
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Then, after FIFA’s award went in Nurkovic’s favour last year and subsequently put a three-window ban on Thwihli Thwahla, the club took the matter on appeal against the player and the world governing body to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The initial CAS hearing was on May 13 with the latest extension of the deadline for communicating the Arbitral Award now set for October 11.
