Liverpool loanee Owen Beck was at the centre of a controversial incident during Blackburn Rovers’ goalless draw against Preston North End in the Championship on Sunday.
Beck, who is spending the season on loan at Blackburn from Liverpool, was sent off just two minutes before full-time after a heated altercation with Preston midfielder Duane Holmes.
However, during the scuffle, television footage appeared to show Preston’s Montenegro international, Milutin Osmajic, biting the 22-year-old on the back of the neck.
Preston's Milutin Osmajic biting Blackburn's Owen Beck. Beck was red carded, Osmajic was shown a yellow 🤨 pic.twitter.com/RXNlmq6uMa
— J (@Two_Pradista) September 22, 2024
Beck immediately protested to referee Matt Donohue and his assistants, claiming he had been bitten.
Despite his protests, Beck was still shown a red card.
After the match, Blackburn manager John Eustace confirmed that Beck had been bitten by Osmajic.
The Preston forward could now face a lengthy suspension if the incident is reviewed and the allegations are proven true.
“Obviously that’s what happens in local derbies, emotions get very high,” said Eustace.
“You can see from the television pictures that the kid has taken a big chunk out of his neck.
“That’s part of being in the derby, I suppose.
“(Owen) said he was sent off for the tackle, he’s tried to kick the ball away and the lad has made a big scene of it.
“It’s a harsh one, we are disappointed to have now lost him for three games.
“We just have to make sure Owen is okay now.”
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “I’ve just been told that there was a claim of a bite from Mili.
“We’ll have to see what happens regarding that.
“We don’t want biting on the football pitch, that’s not allowed.
“That’s an easy one to address.”
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