Milutin Osmajic’s night and once again his reputation unravelled in spectacular fashion as Preston North End’s defeat to Hull City descended into disorder at Deepdale.
With Preston already 3–0 down and the clock deep into stoppage time, frustration finally boiled over. Osmajic took exception to a drag-back from Hull midfielder John Lundstram, reacting in a way that turned a lost cause into a disciplinary nightmare.
The Preston striker initiated contact with a forceful two-handed shove, sending Lundstram staggering away. When the Hull midfielder returned, arms spread in disbelief, Osmajic snapped. Players from both sides converged in an attempt to calm the situation, but the intervention came too late. Osmajic drove his head into Lundstram, flooring him instantly and leaving the referee with no choice.
A straight red card followed in the sixth minute of added time, but that did little to cool tempers. Instead, the dismissal ignited a chaotic aftermath, with players, substitutes and staff pouring towards the touchline. Arguments continued long after the initial incident, and stewards were eventually required to help separate those involved near the dugouts.
The referee, after lengthy discussions with his assistants, produced two further red cards for the disorder that followed. Preston first-team coach Peter Murphy was dismissed, while a member of Hull City’s backroom staff was also sent off, underlining the scale of the breakdown in discipline during the closing moments.
Once the dust finally settled and Osmajic had disappeared down the tunnel, the match was briefly restarted to allow the remaining seconds to tick away. Hull closed it out without fuss, sealing a comfortable 3–0 win and a third straight victory in all competitions, while Preston were left to reflect on a night that ended in embarrassment as much as defeat.
For Osmajic, the consequences are unavoidable. A minimum three-match ban awaits for violent conduct, and given his recent history, the Football Association may yet take a closer look. What should have been a routine defeat has instead become another chapter in a growing catalogue of disciplinary problems.
The 26-year-old had only just returned at the start of January after completing a nine-match suspension for racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri during a Championship fixture last season. The incident was reported during the match and later upheld following an FA investigation, resulting in a £21,000 fine and a mandatory education course.
That punishment followed another serious offence earlier in Osmajic’s Preston career. In October 2024, he was banned for eight matches after admitting to biting Blackburn Rovers loanee Owen Beck, an incident that drew widespread criticism across the EFL.
This latest outburst only intensifies scrutiny on both player and club. While Osmajic’s ability is clear, his repeated lapses in discipline continue to overshadow his contributions on the pitch and leave Preston dealing with avoidable disruption.
Preston now face difficult questions over how they manage a player whose behaviour has repeatedly crossed the line. With suspensions mounting and scrutiny increasing, the club may be forced to consider whether Osmajic’s indiscipline is becoming as damaging as it is unpredictable, both on and off the field.
