Coach banned for 7 matches for calling Nigerian player ‘black idiot’

The Slovenia Football Association has suspended the coach of the club first-division leader for seven matches for racially abusing one of his own players.

Olimpija Ljubljana’s Marko Nikolic called Nigerian striker, Blessing Eleke, ‘black idiot’ after he scored an extra time equalizer against Zavrc at home for 1-1 on Sunday and broke away to celebrate the goal.



Nikolic felt Eleke was wasting time as he wanted the team to win the match.

Nikolic, a Serb, was caught on camera saying “look at that idiot” while Eleke celebrated.

The coach has however apologized to Eleke. He said he never intended to offend the player racially, and was unhappy that the long celebration meant there was no time for a winner.

Olimpija refused to suspend the coach, but the FA said it acted “because of clear racism.”

The suspension meant Nikolic is banned to the end of the season.