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Statements released by Preston and Burnley after Hannibal Mejbri and Milutin Osmajić incident

Statements have been released by Preston North End and Burnley after an incident between Hannibal Mejbri and Milutin Osmajić.

An incident in Saturday’s goalless Lancashire derby at Deepdale, has reported to officials, with it reported that Osmajic said something to Hannibal who was then seen to be “upset”.

Hannibal spoke to manager Parker on the touchline and when asked about the incident in his post-match interview with Sky Sports he told the interview: “I think something was said, I’m not going to go through the detail of what was said but something has been said to Hannibal and he has reported that and the officials have taken down what was reported.”

Parker added that he spoke to Hannibal immediately after what happened “to find out exactly what was said”. “The boy was hurt at that moment in time and he was emotional”.

Later in the game, Hannibal was subbed off, with Parker appealing to the Preston fans to “calm down” as they booed the player off the pitch.

“There is no real understanding sometimes of situations,” Parker added. “I get the emotion of games and sometimes you need to sit down and have a little think.

“At that moment everyone is heated, including fans, and I was just trying to say calm down.”

Mejbri posted on Instagram: “I will not be silent about what happened today. I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. 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.”

Matt Scrafton tweeted: “James Trafford posting on his Instagram page…

“I understand a Preston player came into the changing room at full-time to apologise.

“To make matters worse, a Preston fan was also arrested and charged for racially abusing Hannibal at full-time.”

Burnley keeper James Trafford said after the game, saying: “Kick it out, no place for that in football. hannibal.mj ❤️❤️❤️❤️”

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BURNLEY STATEMENT:

Burnley Football Club is aware of an alleged comment made to Hannibal by Milutin Osmajic during our game against Preston North End which was reported to officials both during and after the game.

During the second-half Hannibal made referee Andrew Kitchen aware of the comment who has registered the complaint. The Club would like to thank the officials for their professional handling of the incident.

The Club will continue to show its complete support to Hannibal and there will be no further comment made until the investigation has been completed.

PRESTON STATEMENT:

Preston North End are aware of a complaint that has been made by Hannibal Mejbri and Burnley FC to today’s match officials with regards to an allegation of a comment made by Milutin Osmajić during today’s Sky Bet Championship fixture at Deepdale.

Milutin Osmajić has strongly refuted the claims of a comment made towards Hannibal Mejbri in a post-match meeting with today’s match officials.

The club would like to thank the match officials for the way they have handled the issue and will assist with the investigation until a conclusion has been found.

No further comment will be made at this time.

Scott Parker told talkSPORT: “Yeah, there was an incident.

“What Hannibal heard someone say to him. And instantly, I think everyone sees it in the stadium, his reaction, the emotional state that he went into.

“He was obviously hurt and tried to calm the situation down while trying to get some context on exactly what was said and have an understanding of that situation.

“Fair play to him. At that point, I’ve never really been involved in a game where what Hannibal said to me [happened] I never had to deal with that. So obviously my main focus and support at that moment was for Hannibal.

“He’s now got to carry on playing a game of football, really. He was brilliant in that, really.”

Questioned if the referee could have done more in the moment, he added: “No, the ref can’t hear that. He’s in a stadium of people. Fourth can’t hear it. I thought the officials, for my disappointment in him not giving a penalty, I thought he handled it and the fourth handled it very, very well.

“It’s been reported now. It’ll go through due process now. We’ll see, I’m sure in the coming days there’ll be some actions or whatever may take place, really.

“He’s not too bad. He’s fine.”

Preston boss Paul Heckingbotham said: “I’ve not spoken to anyone there yet. Looking from up there, I’m looking at that and thinking it’s a difficult one for the referee when it’s he said, she said.

“Obviously everyone reacts in a different way to something that they don’t know what’s happened. Does that make sense?

“I thought the referee handled it really, really well. Calmed down a potentially explosive situation really quickly.

“Spoke to both parties, spoke to both captains and literally calmed everyone down really, really well.

“That’s my first take, that he managed that really, really well. We’ll wait to see. I’ll speak to our guys, speak to theirs and the referees then if there is something they always put it in a report and then it’s looked into.”

On the potential of losing Osmajic again after his previous ban, he added: “You talk as if something’s happened, but none of us know that.

“If you spend any time with Milan you know what a good guy he is. You also know how many languages he speaks and everything he shouts. I don’t understand half the things he says.

“At the minute everything is speculation. I thought the referee handled a potentially difficult situation really, really well.”

Twitter users reacted to statements released by Preston and Burnley after Hannibal Mejbri and Milutin Osmajić incident…

@TheBurnleyWay: We’re all with Hannibal. These incidents shouldn’t happen.

@itfc6: It’s the same @pnefc player that got banned for 8 games!! Sending support to Hannibal from Ipswich!!

@Noordad: This is simply not acceptable. Time for @pnefc to investigate and address appropriately

@AllDayLUFC: There is zero room for this type of abuse from fans and when it’s coming from a player, it worsens the issue. Many Leeds fans aren’t a fan of him, but well done to Hannibal for standing up for it.

@Liam_ohara96: Class. Everything about the reaction. Is exactly how to react. True example set to people from Hannibal.

@PapaFoledog: We stand with you Hannibal 💙👊🏻👊🏼👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿👊 #Respect #NoRoomForRacism #FuckRacism #OnceBluesAlwaysBlues #KRO

@USA_UTC: Hate has no place in football or society. All your fellow Clarets stand with you and support you, Hannibal! 💜 #twitterclarets

@milbfc: strongly refuted the claims yet his teammate went to burnley and apologised for his behaviour?#twitterclarets

@JimWilkz23: No sympathy for North End. This animal would have been sacked in any other field of human working endeavour for his Beck misdemeanour. A member of your club staff I speak with regularly said he cravenly declined to come on at Ewood preferring to hide on the bench. You bought it

@curtismannan7: Refuted the claims. Mate your own teammate came into the dressing room to apologise for it

@ClaretXtra: Strongly refuted the claims, yet an unnamed Preston player went to the Burnley changing room to apologise? Makes sense. #TwitterClarets

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