Coach lands 7 Game ban for calling Nigerian Black Idiot

Coach of Slovenia’s league leaders Olimpija, Marko Nikolac, has Landed a 7 game ban for calling Blessing Eleke, a Nigerian player in the club, a “black idiot”.

The coach was caught on camera saying “look at that idiot” while Eleke was celebrating an equaliser in the game against rival Zavrc.

Nikolac believed Eleke spent too much time celebrating the goal which was Eleke’s first home goal for Olimpija following his January move from Gorica.

The club initially refused to suspend the Serb, but the Slovenian FA intervened, citing “clear racism” as its reason for acting.

Milan Mandaric, Olimpija president who was the former Leicester and Portsmouth owner, had defended Nikolic, saying: “We have come to the conclusion that the coach did not target the player’s race.”

Nikolac while apologising said his remarks about Eleke were not racist as he only wanted his team to try and score a winning goal to reach the championship playoffs on their way to clinching the league title.

He said he has had a long talk with the 20-year-old Nigeria striker, who he respects a lot and has tried to improve as a player.

“I wish to apologise to the to everyone – the President, the Sports Director, Blessing Eleke and finally all fans of Olimpija for an inadvertent remark, which when heard again on television later sounded very distasteful and worthy of condemnation,” said the young coach.

“My only wish was that after the equaliser on 92 minutes, we should try to get the winning goal.

“My target is to reach the national championship playoffs and go on to win the championship.

“I would like to thank all the team for understanding that my remarks were not meant to be racist.”