Jestrovic: I'm no racist

Anderlecht striker Nenad Jestrovic intends to launch a strong defence against a UEFA investigation into his sending off for alleged racist abuse of Liverpool’s Mohamed Sissoko.

The 29-year-old was sent off just five minutes after coming on in his side’s 3-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday after a verbal clash with Reds’ Mali international midfielder Sissoko.

Referee Kim Milton Nielsen cited racial abuse for his decision to show a straight red card and UEFA will examine the Danish official’s report into the incident.

Serbian international Jestrovic is determined to clear his name and said: “For me it is not a problem that UEFA are going to investigate. I have spoken to the (Anderlecht) president (Roger van den Stock) and we are going to send UEFA the video.

“Sissoko said to me in French **** off son of a bitch. He said the same thing in Brussels so I just said **** off man.

“I don’t understand why the referee sent me off. Sissoko didn’t hear it and he looked surprised when I was sent off. I have all the newspapers with him saying he didn’t hear.”

Jestrovic is anxious to avoid suffering the stigma of being branded a racist and added: “I’m not a racist.

“I participate in all the anti-racism events we have at Anderlecht and it’s difficult for me to think that everyone thinks I’m a racist, especially because I want to play in England one day.

“I like everyone and it’s not important to me what colour people are.”