Orlando Pirates’ hopes of catching up with Mamelodi Sundowns have received a setback after the PSL cancelled their match against Royal AM that was scheduled for Thursday.
Pirates were to take on Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium but the fixture has now been cancelled owing to the latter’s financial problems, having failed to provide guarantees that they will honour all their matches, leading to their suspension.
Royal are in a deep financial hole after club president Shauwn Mhize was slapped with a R40 million tax bill by the South African Tax and Revenue Service, who raided her home and seized luxury cars, while the club, which is under a transfer ban for failing to pay ex-forward Samir Nurkovic R15 million, has been unable to pay players’ salaries for November and December.
“On 9 January 2025 Royal AM FC informed the League that it could not meet its commitments in respect of its match against Chippa United FC on 11 January 2025 due to difficulties arising from the appointment of a Curator,” the PSL said via a statement on Wednesday.
Why are Royal AM suspended?
“The Executive Committee (ExCo) has since convened three separate meetings to establish whether the club, under curatorship, will be able to meet its fixture commitments in a compliant fashion.
“On 17 January 2025 ExCo were assured that a joint letter of comfort (from club management and the Curator) would be provided confirming that the issues that had arisen had been resolved.
“No such letter of comfort has been forthcoming and ExCo has been left with no alternative but to cancel PSL Fixture 106 – Royal AM vs Orlando Pirates Harry Gwala Stadium at 19h30 – and to suspend all other Royal AM fixtures (Betway Premiership and Nedbank Cup) until further notice.”
The decision leaves the league in a difficult position as it will have to play the rest of the campaign without one team while Pirates could find themselves six points behind Sundowns, who play Magesi FC on Wednesday.
