Preston striker Milutin Osmajic faces a lengthy ban after allegations he bit Blackburn left-back Owen Beck at the end of a stormy Lancashire derby, which resulted in two red cards.
Blackburn manager John Eustace called on the Football Association to take action after the extraordinary incident at Deepdale – and his colleague Paul Heckingbottom admitted Osmajic would be in deep trouble if the allegation is proven.
Beck, on loan from Liverpool, was sent off in the 89th minute of the 0-0 draw for a foul on Duane Holmes, leading to a mass brawl involving several players.
During the brawl, the Wales Under-21 international claimed he had been bitten and attempted to show referee Matt Donohue a mark on his neck.
But Osmajic escaped with a yellow card, while Beck was shown red – after Preston striker Sam Greenwood was sent off in the first half for a rash foul on Blackburn midfielder Lewis Baker.
Preston striker Milutin Osmajic (left back) faces a lengthy ban after allegations he bit Blackburn left back Owen Beck (left)
A brawl broke out between both groups of players after the bizarre biting incident
Beck (right), on loan from Liverpool, tried to tell the referee he had been bitten by Osmajic (left)
Eustace said: ‘Everyone is angry about it. It’s not a nice situation to be in. I’m sure the right people will see it and take it from there.
‘Owen has a big bite wound on his neck. He’s been in there and showed it to all the lads. He’s very disappointed to be sent off but he clearly doesn’t like having that on his neck either. He was a bit quiet in the dressing room and a bit shocked.
“It’s a very serious incident. Nobody likes to get bitten.”
Montenegrin international Osmajic will have no defence if the charges against him are upheld and he is given a suspension, according to Preston manager Heckingbottom.
“I didn’t see it,” Heckingbottom said. “I wasn’t told until I did an interview with Sky afterwards.
Blackburn manager John Eustace claimed his player has a ‘large bite wound on his neck’
“I can only say that there is no place for that in the game. We know we can’t do that. Mistime tackles and things that are part of the game, yes, you accept those. Anything that is not, we know how to deal with that.”
Blackburn missed the chance to finish third in the Championship by failing to win despite playing more than half the game with the man down after Greenwood, who was on loan at Leeds, was shown a red card.
“Watching it back, I understand why it’s a red,” Heckingbottom said. “At the time I thought he’d won the ball and it was a yellow card. It probably was, but Baker’s leg is still stuck under it. If they’re red, that’s fine, but we just want to see consistency.”
Blackburn came closest to scoring late in the first half when Tyrhys Dolan hit the post, but Preston’s Ben Whiteman and Brad Potts were both denied by keeper Aynsley Pears in the closing stages.