Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam to miss Norwich City game after retrospective ban for violent conduct is upheld
Stoke City's Charlie Adam. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire - Credit: PA
Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes has accused the Football Association of double-standards after midfielder Charlie Adam was banned for three matches – including this Saturday's match against Norwich City.
The Scotland international was found guilty of violent conduct after his stamp on Arsenal's Olivier Giroud during Saturday's 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium was missed by referee Mike Jones but picked up by television footage.
Stoke contested the FA's decision to charge the player but an independent panel upheld the charge against the 28-year-old yesterday.
The former Blackpool player will now miss Saturday's crunch Premier League clash at Carrow Road.
'I am extremely disappointed for the effect that this is going to have on Charlie and on the football club,' Scholes told stokecityfc.com.
'However, I am not surprised because clubs like ours very rarely succeed in appeals to the FA.
'We put together a strong defence which was based upon the facts, which were that Charlie needed to plant his foot, and in changing direction his eyes followed the ball at all times.
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'How can anybody other than Charlie say what intent was there? How can the FA possibly justify this decision in the light of recent incidents which were far worse at other clubs, which have gone unpunished?'
Last month Manchester City's Yaya Toure escaped punishment after appearing to aim a kick at Norwich's Ricky van Wolfswinkel during a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road.
That led Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to state: 'The message is clear: the players can do what they want if the referee doesn't see.'
Adam will also miss league matches against West Ham and Aston Villa.
