Footballer Who Bit Opponent’s Neck Handed Lengthy Ban

Preston’s Osmajic Handed Eight-Match Ban and £15,000 Fine for Biting Incident

Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic has been suspended for eight matches and fined £15,000 following an incident during a Championship match in which he bit Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck. The altercation occurred in a goalless match between the two Lancashire clubs at Deepdale on September 22, 2024.

The match, which had been tense, escalated towards the end, culminating in Osmajic’s bite on Beck in the 87th minute. The situation left Beck visibly shaken, with a bite mark on his neck. In the post-match press conference, Blackburn manager John Eustace expressed concern for his player, stating Beck had shown his teammates the bite and was understandably disturbed.

Following the incident, the Football Association (FA) launched an investigation, and Osmajic admitted to the charge of violent conduct. An independent regulatory commission, after reviewing the case, imposed the sanctions on the Montenegrin forward. The FA confirmed that the written reasons for the punishment would be made available at a later date.

The incident also involved Blackburn’s Beck, who was sent off during the same moment of confrontation for kicking out at Preston’s Duane Holmes. Despite the tension on the pitch, both players could face each other once more in October when Osmajic is expected to play for Montenegro against Wales, Beck’s national team, in a Nations League match.

This biting incident is not unique in football, with other players facing severe sanctions for similar behavior. In 2013, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez received a 10 match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea. Additionally, other high profile bans include Eric Cantona’s nine month suspension in 1995 for kicking a Crystal Palace fan and Paolo Di Canio’s 11 match ban in 1998 for pushing a referee after being shown a red card while playing for Sheffield Wednesday.