After Milutin Osmajic, a striker for Preston, was accused of making a racist remark to one of Burnley’s teammates, the players immediately issued a statement condemning him.
At Deepdale on Saturday lunchtime, the two teams competed against each other in the fifth round of the FA Cup. This match took place less than two weeks after a goalless draw in the Championship.
On the other hand, the game that took place on February 15 was overshadowed by an allegation of racism that Hannibal Mejbri made against Osmajic following an incident that occurred at the beginning of the following half.
The Tunisian, who was visibly distressed, reported the comment to the referee, Andrew Kitchen, who was praised for the manner in which he handled the situation. Kitchen earned praise for his handling of the situation.
Due to the fact that Burnley and Hannibal both issued statements, the FA has not yet completed their investigation, which means that Osmajic was free to play in the FA Cup match they were scheduled to play.
However, Hannibal’s teammates took a stand by refusing to shake hands with the striker prior to the game. This was in response to the fact that Hannibal was neglected by manager Scott Parker.
Osmajic made an offer to the players of the opposing team, but every single member of the Clarets starting eleven took the opportunity to completely ignore him.
Although they made an effort to shake hands with other players, they did not make any effort to do so with Osmajic, who had to simply walk past them. He was observed laughing after the snubbing, which occurred after the event.
In a statement made prior to the Lancashire derby, Parker admitted that he was faced with a difficult decision regarding the inclusion of Hannibal in the match. In the end, he decided against including the former Manchester United player in the matchday squad.
During his press conference on Thursday, Parker stated, “It is a difficult situation, and it is one that I need to think about for a very long time.”
“I want to protect Hannibal from the bottom of my heart, but why should he be denied this opportunity? This is a choice that I will have to make for myself.
After providing Hannibal with an explanation of the situation and determining the level of comfort he is at, I will make the best decision that feels right for him. On Friday morning, I will have those conversations with your friend.
The allegations of racial abuse were “strongly refuted” by Osmajic, according to Preston. Interviews with both of the players involved in the incident, as well as club staff and witnesses, are being conducted as part of the investigation into the incident.
In the event that Osmajic is found guilty, he will be subject to a minimum suspension of six games. He was given a fine of £15,000 and a suspension of eight games earlier this season for biting Owen Beck’s neck during a match against Blackburn Rovers in September. The match took place in September.
