Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic is facing another three games on the sidelines after headbutting an opponent – and the Montenegro international’s rap sheet is staggering
Milutin Osmajic already had a reputation before he planted a headbutt on the nose of an opponent on Tuesday night. Now his infamy is such that his time in English football is under genuine scrutiny.
Preston North End were 3-0 down in the 95th minute and staring at a third straight home defeat without scoring inside 12 days when Osmajic aimed a blatant headbutt at Hull City midfielder John Lundstram. He was sent off in fractious scenes at the end of the match and will now face a three-match ban.
It is not the Montenegro international’s first misstep. In fact, if he is banned for three games by the FA, as expected, that will take him to 20 matches missed for disciplinary reasons inside the last 16 months.
Despite their recent struggles, Preston are sixth in the Championship and are in the running for promotion to the Premier League. Understandably, North End boss Paul Heckingbottom was seething when he spoke to the media post-match about his striker, who has five goals in 15 league games this season.
Asked by BBC Radio Lancashire if he was running out of chances, Heckingbottom replied tellingly: “Do you think I’d say that to you? Worth asking…”
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He described Osmajic’s lack of discipline as “totally unacceptable” and added: “He’s not learnt his lesson. The issues are totally unconnected in terms of football. But in terms of other things, they’re professional footballers and there’s a way to act, regardless of if that’s a tackle on the pitch, discipline away from the training ground – there’s a way to be professional.”
Former Preston goalkeeper Alan Kelly was on co-commentary duties for BBC Radio Lancashire and said: “He’s let his team down, he’s let the club down, because everybody here has done everything in their power to protect him and, out of nowhere, he puts the head in on a Hull player. He’s got to realise that with his reputation now that he’s not going to get away with it.”
Ban after ban
Preston signed Osmajic from Spanish side Cadiz in September for a club-record fee of around £2million. He has 28 goals and five assists in 96 games, and yet if he were to leave today, his legacy at the club would not be defined by his efforts in front of goal.
The 26-year-old’s disciplinary issues started in September 2024 when he was accused of biting the neck of Blackburn Rovers player Owen Beck. He avoided a red card on that occasion but was subsequently banned for eight games and fined £15,000 by the FA.
Osmajic had not long completed that ban when he was accused of racially abusing Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri. “I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it,” the former Manchester United star wrote on social media. “That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong person but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch.”
Osmajic denied the allegations and Preston stood by him. Nevertheless, the FA issued a nine-match ban, £21,000 fine and sent the striker on a mandatory education course.
Preston responded by saying they were “extremely disappointed” by the decision, adding: “We note that the outcome was determined on the ‘Balance of Probabilities’ rather than one that is ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’. We also note that The FA determined that this decision offers no moral judgement, was not premeditated nor any comment about his general character. Milutin has always pleaded his innocence of the charge and continues to do so. We continue to be fully supportive of our player.”
This time around there could be no defence. Osmajic’s contract at Preston runs until June 2027, but his future has been thrown into question by the latest misdemeanour.
‘Out of chances’
Olly Dawes of Deepdale Digest has given the fan perspective on the controversy for Mirror Football…
The latest drama around Milutin Osmajic is an enormous disappointment, but comes as little surprise to North End fans. For all of Osmajic’s goalscoring talent, he has become a searing headache over the last 18 months, and this latest episode is the final straw for many supporters.
The club stood by Osmajic through the unsavoury biting ban, and continued to back him after the incident with Hannibal Mejbri. For Osmajic to put himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons yet again, just a matter of games after his return from suspension, is a real kick in the teeth… or perhaps a bite in the neck.
Many fans have now had enough and seen enough, but how this ends is anybody’s guess. Osmajic still has 18 months left on his contract, and his market value is plummeting with every indiscretion.
Some want Osmajic sold, but how? Will anyone out there want to take a chance on a player whose tally of goals only just eclipses his number of games missed through suspension?
It’s difficult to see North End sacking Osmajic. Let’s not forget that the Montenegrin striker is PNE’s record signing at just over £2m. That may not sound like a significant price tag at Championship level, but it is to PNE.
The clock is ticking in the January transfer window, and few would blame North End for calling clubs and agents all over the world in an effort to offload Osmajic. Whether anybody bites on that proposal – pun intended – remains to be seen, but Osmajic finally appears to be out of chances at Deepdale.
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