Royal AM have suffered another blow in their attempt to gain promotion to the DStv Premiership following Judge Leonie Windell’s ruling at the South Gauteng High Court on Monday.

The KwaZulu-Natal club submitted an application to the High Court appealing the decision to award Sekhukhune United the GladAfrica Championship title.

Royal also made an urgent application to have Premier Soccer League CEO Mato Madlala charged for contempt of court for proceeding with the completed promotion/relegation playoffs.

However, Judge Windell has since dismissed their application to end their chances of gaining automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership, arguing it had no merit.

As it stands, Sekhukhune United will gain automatic promotion to the top flight as well as the GladAfrica Championship title after they were awarded three extra points by Adv Hilton Epstein, while Chippa United successfully retain their PSL status after Royal failed to honour their games in the promotional/relegation playoffs.

“Royal AM’s application is without merit and must be dismissed. In the result the following order is made: 1. The application is dismissed with costs, including the costs of two counsel where so employed,” Judge Windell stated.

“The relief Royal AM seeks runs contrary to the previous findings of this court and is not supported by the facts or the law. The interdictory relief granted by Nyathi AJ in paragraph 3 came to an end when Sutherland DJP refused leave to appeal on 18 June 2021,” reads Windell’s judgment.

“Paragraph 2 of the order of Nyathi AJ did not have the effect of reinstating Royal AM to the top of the GladAfrica Championship and has been suspended by the NSL’s application for leave to appeal.

“The Epstein award is binding and Royal AM’s application for leave against the dismissal of the review did not have the effect of suspending the Epstein award.”