Preston North End forward, Milutin Osmajic, has been slapped with an eight-match suspension after admitting to biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck during their recent Championship clash.
The Montenegro international left visible bite marks on Beck's shoulder, though the incident went unnoticed by the match referee, Matt Donohue, during the goalless draw at Deepdale. Interestingly, it was Beck who was shown a red card for kicking Duane Holmes in retaliation after the bite, which the referee did see.
Beck has already served part of his three-match suspension, missing Blackburn’s fixtures against Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Coventry City. However, Osmajic's punishment is much harsher due to the serious nature of his actions.
On Friday, October 4, the Football Association (FA) found Osmajic guilty of violent conduct. As a result, he has been banned for eight games and fined £15,000.
The FA's statement read: "Preston North End’s Milutin Osmajic has been handed an eight-match suspension and a £15,000 fine for misconduct during their match against Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship on Sunday, September 22. The forward admitted to an act of violent conduct in the 87th minute by biting an opponent. The sanctions were imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a hearing. The written reasons will be published in due course."
Preston North End acknowledged the FA's decision in a statement but added that they would refrain from further comment until the official reasoning is released.
Meanwhile, Beck's dismissal followed his reaction to the foul on Osmajic by Yuki Ohashi, as he lashed out at Holmes in frustration. His actions earned him a three-match ban, which is now nearly complete.
