Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic has been banned for nine games and fined £21,000 by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri in a Championship game earlier this year.
Incident During Preston vs Burnley Fixture
The incident took place in February in Preston’s goalless draw with Burnley. The game was briefly halted in the second half after Hannibal reacted angrily to something Osmajic allegedly said. Referee Andrew Kitchen spoke at length with the Tunisian midfielder following the confrontation.
The FA has said that Osmajic’s comments comprised an “aggravated breach” of Rule E3, which concerns the use of abusive and/or insulting language with reference to race or colour.
FA Confirms Charge and Hearing Outcome
Milutin Osmajic, 26, was formally charged in March and a disciplinary hearing was held in September. The FA confirmed the verdict on Friday, finding that the charge was proved on the balance of probabilities the standard of proof used in civil proceedings rather than the “beyond reasonable doubt” threshold required in criminal cases.
Consequently, Osmajic will now miss nine matches, sidelining him up to and including Preston’s Boxing Day clash against Stoke City.
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Preston North End Express “Extreme Disappointment”
In a statement, Preston North End declared the club was “extremely disappointed” at the verdict of the FA and underlined that it has zero tolerance towards discrimination.
“We note that the verdict was decided by the ‘balance of probabilities’ and not ‘beyond reasonable doubt’,” the club said. “The FA have reiterated that it is not a moral judgement, nor premeditated, and neither makes any remark about the general character of Milutin.”
The club added that Milutin Osmajic has always maintained his innocence and continues to deny the allegation. Preston confirmed they remain fully supportive of their player.
Burnley Yet to Comment on FA Ruling
Burnley FC have not commented yet on the ruling of the FA. Two weeks after the incident, during the FA Cup fifth-round match between the sides, there was noticeable tension as Burnley’s players refused to shake hands with Osmajic before kickoff.
Osmajic scored in that fixture and celebrated by gesturing toward Burnley supporters, a move that reignited controversy surrounding the previous confrontation. Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri did not feature in that game, with boss Scott Parker opting to leave him out of the squad.
Second Lengthy Ban in Consecutive Seasons
This is the second major suspension in consecutive seasons for Milutin Osmajic. The Montenegro international was banned for eight games and fined £15,000 for the 2024–25 campaign after admitting to biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck during a September 2024 match.
However, while Osmajic accepted the charge of violent conduct, he has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in this case, relating to racial abuse.
Broader Implications and Reaction
The case has once again sparked debate over racism within the sport, with the FA reaffirming their vows to stamp out discrimination in its entirety. The usage of the Kookaburra ball-as seen in another recent ruling of the ECB-and this disciplinary verdict demonstrate how regulating bodies strive to protect integrity and also work for greater inclusivity in sports.
For Milutin Osmajic, though, it’s about clearing his name while the suspension that has him out of commission for a crucial stretch of the season with Preston North End is served.
Key Takeaways
Milutin Osmajic has been banned for nine matches and fined £21,000 for racially abusing Hannibal Mejbri.
Incident occurred in February during Preston vs Burnley match.
FA found charge proven on the balance of probabilities.
Preston North End disappointed but standing by their player. Second major suspension in two seasons for Osmajic.
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