Preston’s Osmajic Charged by FA for racial abuse of Hannibal

Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic has been charged by the Football Association (FA) with racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. The charge stems from an incident during a 0-0 Championship draw between the two clubs at Deepdale last month.

The FA statement alleges that Osmajic “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards an opposing player contrary to FA Rule E3.1.” The charge is further classified as an “aggravated breach” because it includes “a reference, whether express or implied, to colour and/or race.”

The match in question was delayed for several minutes in the second half when Hannibal, a Tunisian international, reacted angrily to something allegedly said by Osmajic. Hannibal then spoke at length with referee Andrew Kitchen.

Osmajic, 25, has “strongly refuted” the allegations. He has until March 25th to respond to the charge.

The two teams met again two weeks later in the FA Cup fifth round, a match Preston won 3-0. Burnley players refused to shake Osmajic’s hand before the game, and Hannibal was left out of the Burnley squad entirely. Osmajic scored Preston’s second goal in that match.

Burnley manager Scott Parker explained Hannibal’s absence at the time: “It has been a tough decision… Hannibal is a vitally important member of this squad, and I felt it was the best decision for Hannibal. I wouldn’t want to put him in a situation here, so we have made the decision for the best for Hannibal. That is why he is not in the matchday squad.”

In a social media post after the initial league match, Hannibal wrote: “I will not be silent about what happened today. I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong person but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch.”

This is not Osmajic’s first disciplinary issue. In October, he was banned for eight games by the FA for biting Blackburn’s Owen Beck, an offense he admitted, and was fined £15,000. The FA charge adds further controversy to Osmajic’s season.