FA imposes eight-match ban on Preston's Osmajic for biting Blackburn's Beck

Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic has been given an eight-match suspension for biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck during their second-tier Championship draw last month, the Football Association (FA) said on Friday.

The FA charged the 25-year-old last month and Osmajic admitted biting Beck on the neck around the 87th minute of the match.

"An independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a hearing. Its written reasons will be published in due course," FA said in a statement.

Osmajic was also fined 15,000 pounds ($19,752).

The incident occurred when the players clashed after defender Beck, on loan from Liverpool, was sent off for kicking out at Preston's Duane Holmes late in their goalless draw.

The incident led to a confrontation between the two sides and Osmajic was seen getting close to Beck's neck, with the Montenegro international receiving a yellow card.

In 2013 the FA had also banned Luis Suarez for 10 matches after the forward bit defender Branislav Ivanovic while playing for Liverpool against Chelsea.

($1 = 0.7594 pounds)