Royal AM’s turbulent journey in the Premier Soccer League has officially come to a halt. On Wednesday, the PSL’s Board of Governors (BoG) unanimously voted to expel the KwaZulu-Natal-based club, following the Executive Committee’s recommendation last week.
High-Stakes Meeting in Sandton
The decisive meeting took place at the Sandton Convention Centre, where representatives from all 31 professional teams—excluding Royal AM—assembled to deliberate the matter. This comes after Royal AM failed to fulfil their fixtures during the early stages of the 2025 season, forcing the league to initially suspend them indefinitely.
Executive Committee Leads the Charge
Chaired by Irvin Khoza, the PSL ExCo had suggested that the club be removed from the league due to repeated non-compliance. Their absence on matchdays had cast uncertainty over the integrity of the competition, leading the leadership to recommend immediate expulsion.
Financial Troubles and SARS Curatorship
Further complicating matters was a shocking revelation regarding the club’s financial status. According to SABC Sport, Royal AM had been placed under the control of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for an estimated R40 million in unpaid taxes. The tax debt is reportedly linked to club president Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize and her family trust, placing additional scrutiny on the club’s operations off the field.
Impact on the League Standings
With Royal AM managing to complete only 11 matches this season in the Betway Premiership, all results involving the team have now been annulled. This means that all points gained by or against Thwihli Thwahla no longer count towards the final standings.
Relegation Picture Reshaped
The updated league table will reflect each team playing a total of 28 matches, with the 15th-placed side now entering the promotion/relegation play-offs. This adjustment is expected to have a significant impact on both the relegation battle and the title race, especially for clubs who had previously dropped points to Royal AM.
What Lies Ahead for Royal AM?
This unprecedented move marks a stern message from the PSL about upholding the values of professionalism and compliance. It also raises questions about the future of Royal AM, a team that once made headlines for their rapid rise through the divisions.
As the dust settles, attention will now shift to the legal and financial ramifications for Royal AM, and whether any further sanctions will be pursued against individuals connected to the club.
Related article: Royal AM Faces Expulsion from PSL Amid Financial Chaos and Unpaid Taxes
