Liverpool youngster Owen Beck, currently on loan at Blackburn Rovers, found himself at the center of controversy after being sent off in the goalless Lancashire derby against Preston North End.
Beck, reacting to an alleged bite from Preston forward Milutin Osmajic, was shown a red card, leaving Rovers fans and their manager, John Eustace, furious.
“Owen’s got a big bite mark on the back of his neck and it’s a shame the referee didn’t see that,” Eustace shared in frustration during an interview with BBC Radio Lancashire. Despite the visible evidence, it was Beck who received the punishment.
The incident drew comparisons to former Liverpool star Luis Suarez, who infamously bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in 2013, earning a 10-game ban from the FA. Osmajic’s actions have brought back memories of Suarez’s controversial moment, with many speculating that the Football Association will likely review the footage and take retrospective action.
Beck’s current three-game ban, a result of the red card, could be reduced if the FA exonerates him following the review. Fans and pundits alike are calling for justice, believing Beck acted in defense after being provoked.
It remains to be seen what punishment, if any, will be handed to Osmajic, but history suggests the FA may impose a significant ban if the bite is confirmed. If that happens, it would serve as a reminder of the strict consequences set after Suarez’s biting incident over a decade ago.
This latest controversy has added fuel to what was already a fiercely contested Lancashire derby, and all eyes will be on the FA’s decision in the coming days.
