Montenegro striker Milutin Osmajić has been suspended for nine matches for racially abusing an opponent during a match in England's second-tier Championship last season.

The incident occurred in Preston North End's match against Burnley at Deepdale on February 15.

England's Football Association (FA) said an independent commission found Preston North End's Osmajić abused Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri with words that "included a reference — whether express or implied — to colour and/or race".

Osmajić denied the charge.

The FA said the commission also imposed a fine of 21,000 pounds ($42,544) and a mandatory education course.

The teams met in the FA Cup a few weeks later and Burnley players refused to shake hands with Osmajić in a show of solidarity with Mejbri.

Mejbri, a Tunisian internati

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