The PSL announced the suspension of all fixtures involving Royal AM FC, including their highly anticipated match against Orlando Pirates, which was scheduled for Thursday night in Pietermaritzburg.
This decision comes in the wake of ongoing operational challenges faced by the club, which is under curatorship.
The predicament began on January 9, when Royal AM FC formally notified the League of its inability to fulfil their commitments for the match against Chippa United, set for January 11.
Club president Shauwn Mkhize’s houses in Durban were raided and luxury cars seized last year, as SARS attempted to recoup a R40-million tax debt. Royal AM delayed paying salaries for November, as well as December, and as a result could not travel to Gqeberha to play Chippa United two weeks ago.
The club cited complications stemming from the recent appointment of a curator to manage its affairs during this turbulent period.
In response, the PSL's executive committee (Exco) convened three urgent meetings, aiming to secure guarantees that the club would be capable of adhering to its fixture obligations despite the curatorship. On January 17, the Exco was hopeful for a resolution, believing they would receive a joint letter of comfort from both the club management and the curator.
The latest PSL correspondence was intended to confirm that the issues leading to the club's failure to meet its commitments had been addressed satisfactorily.
However, the anticipated letter failed to materialise, leading the Exco to take necessary actions to protect the integrity of the league. The club’s general manager, Richards Makhoba – while speaking on Metro FM – confirmed that 37 players were registered and confirmed their readiness to host the Buccaneers.
Nevertheless, the fixture between Royal AM and Orlando Pirates, scheduled to take place at the Harry Gwala Stadium at 7:30pm on Thursday, has officially been cancelled. In addition, all other matches concerning Royal AM in both the Betway Premiership and the Nedbank Cup, have also been suspended until further notice.
The Exco also announced that they will reconvene on Friday at 11am to provide an opportunity for Royal AM to present their case concerning the current situation. The outcome of this meeting could prove pivotal in determining the club's future participation in the league.
The suspension of Royal AM fixtures raises crucial questions about the operational viability of clubs in financial distress, and the precedent it sets for the upcoming fixtures in South African football.