Milutin Osmajic Faces Nine-Game Ban for Racial Abuse Incident

Milutin Osmajic, forward for Preston North End, joined the club in 2023 from Spanish team Cadiz. Recently, he has been handed a nine-game suspension following charges of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.

The incident occurred during a goalless draw between Preston and Burnley in February. As a result of this decision, the 26-year-old player will be unavailable for matches until at least December 26, when Preston faces Stoke City. Additionally, Osmajic has been fined £21,000.

Despite facing these allegations, Osmajic has “strongly refuted” the claims and denied any wrongdoing. The Football Association (FA) charged him in March, leading to a hearing in September, where it was determined that an “aggravated breach” had occurred, noting that abusive language referencing color and/or race had been proven.

In response to the FA’s decision, Preston North End expressed their “extreme disappointment” and reaffirmed their commitment to combating all forms of discrimination. The club stated, “We note that the outcome was determined on the ‘Balance of Probabilities’ rather than one that is ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt.'” They emphasized that the FA’s ruling carries no moral judgment and is not indicative of Osmajic’s overall character.

Osmajic maintains his innocence, and the club continues to support him amidst the controversy. Burnley has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.

The incident, flagged by Mejbri to referee Andrew Kitchen during the match, led to a notable delay in the second half. Following this, the two teams met again in the FA Cup fifth round, where Osmajic scored Preston’s second goal and celebrated with gestures towards Burnley fans. Burnley manager Scott Parker opted to leave Mejbri out of that match, which Preston won 3-0, and the Clarets’ players notably refused to shake hands with Osmajic during pre-match preparations.

This ban marks the second significant suspension for Osmajic in consecutive seasons; he previously received an eight-game ban for biting Blackburn Rovers’ Owen Beck in September 2024, for which he admitted guilt and faced a £15,000 fine.