Soccer: Perth Glory striker receives death threats

West Australian police are investigating death threats against Perth Glory striker Bobby Despotovski, the National Soccer League club said last night.

Despotovski is blamed for sparking a violent attack by Knights fans after Sunday's first elimination final NSL match in Melbourne. Glory general manager Roger Lefort said police were investigating death threats against Despotovski ahead of the return match against the Knights on Saturday at Subiaco Oval.

Despotovski issued an apology after becoming aware his denials at making a three-fingered Serbian victory salute - used during raids on Croatian land during the Balkans war - at Knights supporters last weekend would be exposed as a lie by television news broadcasts showing footage of the incident.

He insisted it is a religious gesture for Orthodox Christianity.

His claims have been rejected by Croatian community leaders who insist the gesture originated with Serbian guerrillas, known as Chetniks, during World War 2.