SABC Sport has confirmed that the Premier Soccer League’s executive committee has taken the decisive step to terminate Royal AM’s league membership following months of financial turmoil. The decision, reached during a meeting chaired by PSL chairman Irvin Khoza and acting CEO Mato Madlala, now awaits ratification by the league’s board of governors.
The Durban-based club’s troubles came to a head in January when SARS placed the team under curatorship due to an unpaid R40-million tax debt linked to president Shauwn Mkhize’s family trust. The league subsequently suspended Royal AM’s participation as attempts to sell the club’s Premiership status collapsed when a prospective buyer failed the vetting process and couldn’t complete payment.
With only 11 matches played this season before their suspension, Royal AM’s campaign has become untenable. The club’s financial collapse follows years of mounting issues, including:
- A FIFA-imposed transfer ban since late 2022 for failing to pay R15-million owed to former striker Samir Nurković
- Multiple failed attempts to resolve their SARS debt
- The unsuccessful sale of their top-flight status
PSL clubs will now hold an urgent vote to finalize the termination, which would mark a dramatic fall for a team that entered the top flight with much fanfare in 2021. The decision underscores the league’s hardening stance on financial compliance as Royal AM becomes the latest casualty of South African football’s ongoing sustainability challenges.
This development leaves questions about the future of Royal AM players and staff, while serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences of financial mismanagement in professional football. SABC Sport will continue to follow this story as the PSL’s member clubs prepare to make their final decision.