Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has accused Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic of racially abusing him during their goalless draw at Deepdale.
The alleged incident, which occurred during the heated Championship clash, was immediately reported to referee Andrew Kitchen, and the Football Association (FA) is set to review the official’s report on Monday.
Following the match, Hannibal took to Instagram to express his frustration and take a stand against racism in football.
“I will not be silent about what happened. I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. That is the only way we change as a sport and a society,” the 22-year-old wrote. “I am a strong person, but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch.”
Burnley have since issued a statement, confirming their awareness of the situation and their full support for Hannibal.
Meanwhile, Preston have responded, stating that Osmajic has “strongly refuted” the accusations. In a post-match meeting with officials, the Montenegrin striker denied making any racist remarks towards Hannibal.
Burnley manager Scott Parker addressed the incident in his post-match comments, emphasizing the emotional toll it had taken on his player.
“He’s hurt. I think everyone could see that at the time. Hannibal’s an emotional player, and he was visibly very stressed by what was said,” Parker told BBC Sport.
“I don’t want to get into the real details of what was said, I’m sure it’ll come out in due course. Hannibal’s reported it and is bitterly gutted, so we’ll see what happens in the coming days.”
The FA is expected to launch an investigation into the matter, reviewing the referee’s report and any available footage or testimonies. With racism in football still a pressing issue, all eyes will be on the governing body to see how they handle the case.
This controversy adds further scrutiny to Osmajic, who has previously faced disciplinary action. In October, he was handed an eight-match ban and fined £15,000 for biting Blackburn’s Owen Beck, an incident that raised questions about his conduct on the pitch.
The two sides are set to face each other again in the FA Cup fifth round on March 1 at Deepdale, a fixture that will now carry added tension given the ongoing allegations.
As the investigation unfolds, both clubs and the FA will be under pressure to ensure a fair and thorough resolution to the situation.
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