Preston striker handed eight match ban and fine for biting opponent

Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic will miss eight matches for taking out frustrations through biting opponent

Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic has been handed an eight-match ban and fined £15,000 after admitting to biting Blackburn defender Owen Beck during a recent Championship clash.

The incident, which occurred on September 22, went unnoticed by the match officials but has since sparked significant controversy in the football community.

A spokesperson for the Football Association confirmed that Osmajic committed "an act of violent conduct" late in the game, specifically around the 87th minute, during a tense moment that also saw Beck sent off for kicking out at Preston's Duane Holmes.

Following the match, Blackburn manager John Eustace revealed the aftermath of the incident, stating, “[Beck has] got a big bite mark on the back of his neck. He’s shown all the lads. He’s a little bit quiet, a little bit shook up.”

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom condemned the act, declaring, “There’s no place for [biting]” in football, emphasizing the need for sportsmanship and respect on the pitch.

Osmajic, who joined Preston last year for what was reported to be a club-record fee, has shown flashes of brilliance in his performances, recently scoring twice in a 3-0 victory against Watford. However, this disciplinary action casts a shadow over his growing reputation.

The biting incident draws parallels to previous cases in football, most notably that of Luis Suárez, who received a 10-match ban in 2013 for biting Branislav Ivanovic.

Such actions have historically led to serious consequences and serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining professionalism in competitive sports.

The ban and fine will serve as a lesson to the Preston striker that there is indeed no place for biting in football.