Slovenian coach racially abuses own player

The coach of first-division leaders Olimpija Ljubljana has been suspended after racially abusing one of his African players who had just scored a goal.

The Slovenia Football Association has suspended the coach of the club first-division leader for seven matches for making a racial slur.

Olimpija Ljubljana's Marko Nikolic abused one of his own players, Blessing Eleke, after the Nigerian scored an extra time equaliser against Zavrc at home for 1-1 on Sunday.

Nikolic, a Serb, was also caught on camera as saying "look at that idiot" while Eleke celebrated.

Nikolic said he never intended to offend the player racially, and was unhappy that the long celebration meant there was no time for a winner. He apologised to Eleke.

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.