Preston forward Milutin Osmajic has been formally charged by the Football Association (FA) after allegations of racist abuse during a Championship match against Burnley on February 15.
The incident, which took place during a heated exchange between Osmajic and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri, has led to the FA charging Osmajic with breaching FA Rule E3.
According to the FA’s statement, Osmajic is accused of using “abusive and/or insulting words” towards Mejbri, with the added allegation that his comments were “aggravated,” meaning they included a reference to race or colour. This is a serious breach under FA Rule E3.2, which specifically addresses racism in football.
The FA confirmed that Osmajic, who has until Tuesday, March 25, to respond, has been charged for his actions during the match. Following the exchange, Mejbri spoke with referee Andrew Kitchen about the incident, but continued to play until he was substituted in the 71st minute of the game.
In response to the charges, Preston North End issued a statement acknowledging the FA’s actions but emphasized that Osmajic continues to strongly deny the allegations.
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The club reiterated that Osmajic would provide a formal response to the charges but refrained from making further comments until the matter is resolved.
The controversy surrounding the incident highlights ongoing concerns about racism in football. With growing scrutiny on the behavior of players both on and off the field, the outcome of this case could have wider implications for how racism is handled in the sport.
As the FA moves forward with the investigation, both the football community and fans will be awaiting Osmajic’s response and the eventual resolution of the case.
