Olimpija Ljubljana coach to keep job after apologising for calling his own player a 'black idiot'

Marko Nikolic issued an apology for calling Nigerian striker Blessing Eleke a 'black idiot' after he celebrated an injury-time equaliser

Olimpija Ljubljana head coach Marko Nikolic has apologised for his offensive comments to striker Blessing Eleke (Getty)

The head coach of Slovenian league leaders Olimpija Ljubljana will keep his job after apologising for calling one of his own players a “black idiot” because he celebrated after scoring a late equaliser.

Marko Nikolic has apologised both publicly and privately to Nigerian striker Blessing Eleke for his comments, which came after Olimpija’s 1-1 draw at home with Zavrc on Sunday.

With Olimpija trailing as they headed into injury time, Eleke scored an equalising header before celebrating emphatically instead of running back to his own half for the restart, with Nikolic incensed that his side weren’t able to push for a late winner due to the time wasted during the celebrations.

Olimpija Ljubljana coach Nikolic has apologised for his offensive comments (Getty)

Nikolic says that he made “an emotional reaction” in calling Eleke a “black idiot”, and thanked both the players and the club for not condoning him as a racist and for understanding that his offensive remark was said in the heat of the moment without him thinking.

“I never intended to offend the player racially or otherwise and I don’t want to be associated with intolerance, racism or discrimination of any kind,” Nikolic told the club’s official website.

“I spoke to Eleke and he said he understood my reaction because emotional outbursts of this kind can happen. I apologise for my reaction generated solely by the rush to score the winning goal after getting a 92nd-minute equaliser and I thank the team for not judging my act as racist.”

Olimpja’s club president, the former Leicester City and Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric, confirmed that while there is no excuses for Nikolic’s remark, he did not intend to direct it at Eleke’s race and would therefore keep his job, having held discussions with both the player and manager.

“The club distances itself from all individual acts which contravene our philosophy and condemns such acts strongly,” said Mandaric.

“However, after careful consideration and talks with Nikolic and Eleke, we have come to the conclusion that the coach did not target the player’s race. It was an emotional reaction generated by an overwhelming desire to win the match.

“There is no excuse, but due to the circumstances, we have refrained from making a decision which would have affected the career of a young and talented coach who has a bright future.”

Olimpija sit top of the Slovenian PrvaLiga two points ahead of reigning champions Maribor, and they have never won the top flight in either Slovenia or Yugoslavia in their history.