Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has sympathised with Paul Lambert following Erik Pieters' actions over the weekend.
The Dutchman had to be dropped for Saturday's clash with Everton after he was pictured at a nightclub past the club's curfew.
The Potters went on to lose the important match 2-0, and Coates has criticised Pieters for putting himself in front of his team.
"The manager has dealt with it," said his chairman.
"It is very disappointing for a senior player with all that experience not to understand we have a critical game and he should be approaching it in the right manner."