OLIMPIJA Ljubljana coach Marko Nikolic has agreed to
leave the Slovenian leaders a week after he racially abused one of his own players.
A video showed Nikolic, 36, calling Blessing Eleke a
"black idiot" after he felt the Nigerian, 20, spent too long
celebrating an equaliser.
The club initially refused to suspend the Serb, but the
Slovenian FA banned him for seven games for "clear racism".
"He made a mistake and had to pay for it,"
chairman Milan Mandaric said.
"We have reached an agreement with Marko for him to
resign as coach. He is a good coach, a good man," added the former
Portsmouth, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday owner.
Olimpija, who are two points clear in the Slovenian top
flight, appointed Nikolic earlier this year after he was sacked by Partizan
Belgrade in his homeland in 2015.
They drew 1-1 against Zavrc on 10 April thanks to Eleke's
first home goal for the club following his January move from league rivals
Gorica.
Nikolic said he made "an emotional reaction" as
Eleke's celebration meant there was less time for a winner and "never
intended to offend the player racially".
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