In a dramatic and unprecedented move, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has taken formal steps to expel Royal AM Football Club from the league.
PSL releases damning statement on Royal AM expulsion
This comes with 15 matches still remaining in the current season.
The decision follows serious findings by the PSL Executive Committee, outlined in a circular distributed to all member clubs on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the PSL found Royal AM to be in breach of multiple regulations, including failing to meet its obligations to the league, misrepresenting key information in its membership renewal, and unlawfully transferring its shares.
Based on these findings, the committee has resolved to recommend the termination of Royal AM’s membership to the Board of Governors, a higher authority within the league structure.
The board will meet in due course to finalise the club’s fate, though this step already signals the league’s intent to sever ties with the embattled club.
Royal AM’s expulsion has been set in motion under the league’s constitution, specifically Articles 10.14, 10.16, and 14.6, which deal with membership responsibilities, transparency, and ownership regulations.
This follows months of turmoil for the club, which is currently under curatorship due to ongoing legal and financial troubles involving its owner, Shauwn Mkhize.
Authorities allege that Mkhize owes the South African Revenue Service over R37 million.
Her home was raided in December 2024, during which several luxury vehicles and firearms were seized. While she has not been formally charged, the situation has rendered the club unable to operate effectively.
The PSL had already postponed Royal AM’s matches in both the DStv Premiership and the Nedbank Cup, citing financial instability caused by the SARS-imposed curatorship.
These disruptions, combined with governance failures, pushed the league to act.
Adding to the fallout, Royal AM was officially placed on sale in March 2025. Potential buyers were required to submit bids with a refundable R1 million deposit and proof of financial stability.
The PSL has not confirmed what will happen to Royal AM’s remaining fixtures or if the club will face further sanctions.
The situation is fluid, but what is clear is that Royal AM’s place in South African top-flight football now hangs in the balance.