Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic has been handed a nine-game suspension and fined £21,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri during a February Championship match.
The Football Association ruled that Osmajic’s comments constituted an “aggravated breach” involving reference to race, following a hearing in September.
Preston said they were “extremely disappointed” with the decision, noting it was based on the civil “balance of probabilities” standard rather than “beyond reasonable doubt,” and reaffirmed their full support for the player, who maintains his innocence.
The 26-year-old Montenegro international will miss games up to Boxing Day, marking his second major ban in two seasons after serving an eight-game suspension last year for biting a Blackburn player.
