Preston's Osmajic Faces FA Charges Over Racial Abuse Allegations Against Hannibal Mejbri

Preston North End's Milutin Osmajic has been formally charged by the Football Association (FA) after allegations of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri surfaced. The incident is said to have occurred during the 0-0 draw at Deepdale last month, prompting a thorough investigation by the FA.

According to the FA, Osmajic is accused of acting in an improper manner and using abusive and/or insulting words towards Hannibal, which constitutes a breach of FA Rule E3.1. The charge is further aggravated as it includes an implied reference to race and colour.

The Championship match was marred by the incident, leading to a delay in the second half when Hannibal reacted angrily to what Osmajic allegedly said. The Tunisian midfielder then engaged in a detailed conversation with referee Andrew Kitchen.

Osmajic has strongly denied the allegations, claiming innocence in the matter. This isn't the first time the 25-year-old Montenegrin has faced disciplinary action; in October, he was banned for eight games and fined £15,000 for biting Blackburn's Owen Beck.

Two weeks after the initial incident, the teams met again in the FA Cup fifth round, with Preston securing a 3-0 victory. However, the match was overshadowed by pre-game tensions, as Burnley players refused to shake hands with Osmajic. Hannibal was notably absent from the matchday squad, with Burnley manager Scott Parker explaining that he wanted to protect his player from further distress.

Hannibal took to Instagram after the first game to express his stance against racism, stating, "I will not be silent about what happened today. 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 FA has given Osmajic until 25 March to respond to the charges. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for both the player and the clubs involved, as the fight against racism in football continues to gain momentum.