Lawyer: R15m Samir Nurkovic saga hurting PSL brand

Speaking to SABC Sport from Croatia, Lazic – who has spent nearly four years pursuing a R15-million settlement for the striker from the now-defunct Royal AM – believes the protracted legal battle is harming the league’s image.

Lazic has now opened disciplinary proceedings against both the PSL and SAFA, arguing that the two bodies should now assume responsibility for settling Nurkovic’s outstanding payment.

"It is a general view to respect and enforce FIFA's decisions, and now it has become a question of ignoring FIFA's decision, and it's up to national football associations to apply those rules equally and fairly."

The attorney added that extensive media coverage of the Nurkovic case means it is likely among the first issues prospective players encounter when researching payment reliability in the PSL. 

"The other issue is that it's a high profile case. Resulting from this, you get bad reputation on the league when players from outside google him and then see that players are not being paid.

"Basically, there is a big likelihood that they will choose some other league or country instead of participating in the South African football league."

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Lazic still strongly holds the view that SAFA as the motherbody should have instructed the PSL to settle the debt through other means. 

"I went through all the documents of the South African Football Association and I found one rule stating that the national association can distribute the money directly to the players or the coaches if there is a final binding decision.

"That is what we asked at that point in time when Royal AM were still functioning as a first tier club, and had money in their account."

At the time of speaking to the public broadcaster, Lazic had not heard back from any of the three bodies in FIFA, SAFA or the PSL, but says there are no necessary deadlines.