By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled on the protracted case between Royal AM, Sekhukhune United and the Premier Soccer League.
Royal AM were overtaken at the summit of the first division by Sekhukhune after an arbitrator had ruled in their favour, awarding them three points in a separate case.
The club last year approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland to make a ruling, which came after they had bought out Bloemfontein Celtic status and gaining automatic entry to the DStv Premiership.
Cas on Wednesday, finally announced their long-awaited verdict.
The ruling states that:
1. Cas has no jurisdiction to hear the appeal filed by Royal AM Football Club on 7 September 2021.
2. The costs of the arbitration, to be determined and served to the parties by the CAS Court Office, shall be borne by Royal AM Football Club.
3. Royal AM Football Club shall pay to the National Soccer League and Sekhukhune United FC a contribution of CHF 4,000 (four thousand Swiss Francs) each towards the legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the present arbitration procedure. All other Parties shall bear their own expenses.
Royal AM will now have pay around R127 000 of legal fees to Sekhukhune and the PSL.