Milutin Osmajic charged with racism against Burnley player

On February 15, 2025, during a Championship game in England between Preston North End and Burnley, a serious allegation of racism surfaced involving Preston forward Milutin Osmajic and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. The match was interrupted for several minutes after Mejbri reacted angrily to a comment allegedly made by Osmajic. He reported the incident to the referee, Andrew Kitchen, who consulted with his officials before allowing the game to resume. Following this episode, the Football Association (FA) investigated the matter, eventually confirming that Osmajic faced charges of acting in an improper manner and using abusive language towards Mejbri, with the nature of the remarks being racially charged. Preston North End, in a statement, strongly denied the allegations on Osmajic’s behalf, leading to a division in viewpoints among those involved in the incident. Furthermore, Preston indicated that Osmajic would respond formally to the FA’s charges in due course. Additionally, the emotional impact of the situation on Mejbri was palpable as he expressed his distress on social media, emphasizing that no player should encounter such abusive behavior on the pitch. This incident sparked a discussion about racism in football, with implications for both clubs and their players. Following the accusations, the atmosphere between the teams remained tense, particularly reflected when Burnley’s players chose not to shake Osmajic's hand before their FA Cup tie on March 1, highlighting the divisions caused by the incident. Preston went on to win that match 3-0, with Osmajic controversially celebrating by gesturing towards Burnley fans, a move that illustrated the ongoing tension. The unfolding events after the accusation have drawn attention not just to individual responsibility in sportsmanship but also to the broader societal issue of racism prevalent in sports culture.