Football: Adam gets three-game ban for Giroud stamp

LONDON (AFP) - Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has been given a three-match suspension after stamping on Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, the Football Association announced on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Scotland international launched an appeal after being charged with violent conduct on Monday, but the FA upheld the charge.

"Stoke City's Charlie Adam will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after an FA charge for violent conduct was found proven," read a statement on the FA website.

"The incident with Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video, occurred during the fixture between the two sides at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, 1 March 2014.

"Adam had denied the charge, but it was found proven at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today (Wednesday)."

The incident occurred during the second half of Stoke's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday, with Adam appearing to stand on Giroud's left shin after the Frenchman had gone to ground to play a pass.

Referee Mike Jones and his officials did not witness what happened, but under a pilot scheme introduced this season, the FA has the power to ask a three-man panel of former referees to review video footage of contentious incidents.

Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes reacted with dismay to news of Adam's ban, telling the club website: "I am extremely disappointed for the effect that this is going to have on Charlie and on the football club.

"However, I am not surprised because clubs like ours very rarely succeed in appeals to the FA."

Adam will miss Stoke's next three Premier League games away to Norwich City, at home to West Ham United, and away to Aston Villa.

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