In a recent goalless Lancashire derby between Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End, young Liverpool loanee Owen Beck found himself at the center of a controversial incident. Beck, who is currently playing for Blackburn, was shown a red card after an altercation involving Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic. The controversy arose from the fact that Beck was reacting to being bitten by Osmajic during the match, a detail that was apparently missed by the match officials.
Blackburn Rovers’ manager, John Eustace, spoke about the incident in an interview with BBC Radio Lancashire, expressing frustration at the decision to send Beck off. Eustace pointed out that Beck had a visible bite mark on the back of his neck, which he said the referee failed to notice during the game. “Owen has a noticeable bite mark on the back of his neck, and it’s unfortunate the referee missed it,” Eustace stated, according to BBC Sport. Despite this, Beck was sent off for his reaction, which leaves Blackburn without the player for three matches due to the automatic suspension that follows a red card.
The incident has led to comparisons with former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, who was involved in a similar controversy during a Premier League match in April 2013. Suarez infamously bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, an act that was caught on camera and led to widespread outrage. Suarez was subsequently handed a 10-game ban by the Football Association (FA) for his actions, setting a precedent for how biting incidents are handled in English football.
In Beck’s case, the FA is expected to review the footage of the altercation between him and Osmajic to determine whether any retrospective action should be taken. While Beck was punished on the day with a red card, it is possible that the FA could reduce or overturn his three-match suspension if the review finds that his reaction was a result of being bitten. On the other hand, Osmajic could face disciplinary action if the FA concludes that he did, in fact, bite Beck during the match. If the allegations against Osmajic are proven, he could face a lengthy suspension, similar to the one Suarez received for his biting incident.
The situation has garnered significant attention, with many awaiting the FA’s decision on whether further action will be taken. If the footage clearly shows Osmajic biting Beck, the FA may hand down a severe punishment, while Beck could be cleared of any wrongdoing for his reaction to the alleged provocation.
