Burnley players refuse to shake hands with Preston’s Osmajic after racism allegation

By: The Associated Press Posted: 8:45 AM CST Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025 Last Modified: 10:55 AM CST Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025

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PRESTON, England (AP) — Burnley players refused to shake hands with Preston’s Milutin Osmajic before their FA Cup game Saturday in solidarity with teammate Hannibal Mejbri, who had claimed the Montenegro forward racially abused him in their previous match.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/03/2025 (583 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mejbri had said he received “disgusting” racial abuse from Osmajic, whose team said after their second-division game on Feb. 15 that he “strongly refuted the claims.” The FA is reportedly still investigating the incident.

On Saturday, during the traditional pre-game handshakes, Burnley players ignored Osmajic, who realized what was happening and pulled back his hand.

Preston North End's Milutin Osmajic celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game, during the English FA Cup fifth round soccer match between Preston North End and Burnley, at Deepdale, in Preston, England, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Osmajic scored just before halftime and then taunted Burnley fans with his celebration. Preston won 3-0 to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Mejbri, a Tunisia international, was not in the squad Saturday.

Earlier this season, Osmajic was suspended for eight matches after biting an opponent during a heated match between Preston and Blackburn. Osmajic admitted to an act of violent conduct when he bit Blackburn defender Owen Beck late in the game on Sept. 22.

After Saturday’s win, Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom said he had spoken to Osmajic about “possible things that were going to be said” during the game.

“But he wanted to play. … It was, could he be professional enough to give us a performance? That was it, that’s what the conversation was about,” Heckingbottom said. “If I felt or he felt he couldn’t be professional enough, he wouldn’t have been involved.”