Stoke City chief executive Tony Scholes has expressed his disappointment at Charlie Adam's three-match ban from the Football Association.
The midfielder was handed the punishment on Wednesday after failing with an appeal to overturn his violent conduct charge.
Adam was found guilty of deliberately stamping on Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud during Saturday's 1-0 win for Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
"I am extremely disappointed for the effect that this is going to have on Charlie and on the football club," Scholes told Stoke's official website.
"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.
"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?"
Adam will start his three-game ban on Saturday when Stoke face Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Premier League.
Jack Prescott
