Olimpija Ljubljana boss Marko Nikolic on Sunday called his Nigerian striker Blessing Eleke a black idiot for over celebrating the equaliser that drew them level against NK Zavrc.
Nikolic said he felt Eleke’s goal celebration went on too long as he felt there was less time for a winner dismissing his reactions as emotional and not intended to offen the player racially,"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 (www.nkolimpija.si).
"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."
Olimpija, who have never won a league title in either Slovenia or the former Yugoslavia, are two points ahead of champions Maribor with seven games remaining.
Olimpija president Milan Mandaric, the former Leicester City and Portsmouth owner, said: "The club distances itself from all individual acts which contravene our philosophy and condemns such acts strongly.
"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."
However his club won’t be taking any decision against the manager for his outburst meted out to their record signing who transfer set a new domestic record in terms of transfer between Slovenian sides in the league.
Eleke who has scored twice from six games for Olimpija, the team he joined from Gorica where he scored 11 times before his transfer that reportedly cost Olimpija €800,000. He is the second top scorer in the Slovenian league with 12 goals behind Olimpija Ljubjana’s Andra Porar who as 17 goals.
