Disgraced Championship footballer headbutts player just days after returning from racial abuse ban

The 26-year-old Montenegrin was spotted smiling initially after his dismissal before pulling his shirt over his face while leaving the pitch.

Manager Paul Heckingbottom condemned his forward's behaviour in the strongest terms.

"A lack of discipline is totally unacceptable," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire following the defeat.

The violent conduct charge is expected to result in an automatic three-match ban, which would bring Osmajic's total suspensions to 20 matches across two seasons under Heckingbottom's management.

This latest red card arrived merely four games after the forward completed a nine-match ban imposed in November for racially abusing Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri during a Championship fixture last year.

During his time at Preston, Milutin Osmajic has received an 8 match ban for biting someone, a 9 match ban for racially abusing another player, and tonight he received a straight red card for m headbutting Hull’s John Lundstram.

A complete liability… 🤦‍♂️
pic.twitter.com/cJn1n1rrNC

— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) January 20, 2026

A Regulatory Commission found the charge proven despite Osmajic's denial, resulting in a £21,000 fine and mandatory education course alongside the lengthy suspension.

Prior to that, he served an eight-match ban last season after biting Blackburn's Owen Beck on the neck.

The melee following Tuesday's headbutt also saw one staff member from each club dismissed.

Heckingbottom expressed his disappointment with the forward, acknowledging that Osmajic had let the club down at a crucial moment in their campaign.

"He has not cost us the game but we have got three big games coming up and we are a striker down," the Preston boss stated.

"In my time here if he gets three games for that, it will have been 20 games missed."

The manager was clear that his striker had failed to modify his behaviour despite previous punishments.

"He has not learned his lesson," Heckingbottom said, adding that while the various incidents were "totally unconnected in terms of football," there remained fundamental questions about professionalism.

"We are professional people and footballers, there is a way to act."

Preston currently occupy sixth position in the Championship table, placing them within the play-off places, though Tuesday's heavy home defeat represented a significant setback to their promotion ambitions.

The suspension will see Osmajic unavailable for crucial fixtures against second-placed Ipswich and Middlesbrough in third, as well as a match against Portsmouth.

Since arriving at Deepdale in 2023, the Montenegrin international has netted 28 times in 96 appearances, with five goals coming from 15 league outings this campaign.

Hull's victory, secured through goals from Liam Millar, Akin Famewo and Oli McBurnie, lifted the Tigers to fourth in the standings.