Stoke-on-Trent, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has been handed a three-match ban by the Football Association, which rejected the club's appeal of a violent conduct charge.
The charge followed an incident during the Potters' 1-0 Premier League victory over Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday when Adam tangled with Gunners striker Olivier Giroud.
Adam was alleged to have stomped on the Frenchman's leg in a challenge that was missed by referee Mike Jones and his fellow officials.
Adam denied the charge, but was found guilty by an independent regulatory commission hearing and the Scotsman will now miss Premier League matches against Norwich City, West Ham and Aston Villa.
"I am extremely disappointed for the effect that this is going to have on Charlie and on the football club," Stoke City chairman Peter Coates said. "However, I am not surprised because clubs like ours very rarely succeed in appeals to the FA."
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