Liverpool loanee Owen Beck found himself at the centre of controversy during the closing moments of Blackburn Rovers’ derby against Preston North End.
The incident began when Beck, playing as a left-back for Blackburn, was involved in an altercation with Preston’s Duane Holmes late in the match.
Tensions escalated quickly, resulting in a melee between players from both teams.
During the scuffle, Beck was shown a red card for his part in the confrontation.
However, as the brawl unfolded, it appeared that Preston forward Milutin Osmajic bit Beck on the neck.
Despite being bitten, Beck was the one sent off, leaving him protesting with officials both during and after the match.
He will now face a three-match ban due to the red card, but the Football Association (FA) is expected to review the footage, which could lead to a lengthy suspension for Osmajic.
What did Blackburn’s manager say about the incident?
Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace expressed his frustration over the incident, acknowledging the heightened emotions often seen in local derbies but emphasising the severity of what happened.
Owen Beck. Credit: Imago Images
Speaking to Sky Sports, Eustace commented on the footage of the incident: “Obviously, that’s what happens in local derbies, emotions get very high. 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.”
Eustace also voiced his disappointment about losing Beck to a suspension and questioned the fairness of the red card decision.
Reflecting on the altercation, he told reporters via the Lancashire Telegraph: “[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.”
