The Football Medical Association says that Eva Carneiro is "thrashing out the details of her departure from Chelsea," according to Jason Burt of the London TELEGRAPH. The FMA said that the case is "now in the hands of lawyers" after it became clear that Carneiro could not resume her duties as Chelsea's first-team doctor "following her demotion by manager Jose Mourinho." In a statement the FMA said it was "extremely disappointed that Dr. Eva Carneiro will not be resuming her full duties as first-team doctor at Chelsea Football Club." Carneiro is being advised by the law firm Mischon de Reya and it has been claimed by lawyers that "she will have a case for constructive dismissal against Chelsea." The doctor "has not been at the club since she -- along with physio Jon Fearn -- was publicly rebuked by Mourinho for running onto the pitch to treat Eden Hazard after he went down injured." Chelsea told Carneiro to report for work last Friday but "she did not do so and it is now evident that she will not be returning to the club" (TELEGRAPH, 9/23). In London, Ed Aarons wrote Carneiro is thought to be "preparing to sue" the club. Employment law expert Nick Wilcox said Mourinho’s public criticism of Carneiro appears “disproportionate,” and could be considered “public humiliation,” which would breach Chelsea’s "duties as her employer." A spokesperson for Women in Football said, “We are bitterly disappointed about the departure of Dr Eva Carneiro from Chelsea FC. We believe it is appalling that her professionalism and understanding of football were subsequently called into question by manager José Mourinho and it threatened to undermine her professional reputation" She is extremely highly regarded within the medical profession and the football industry. (GUARDIAN, 9/23).
BANISHED FROM THE BENCH: The BBC reported Carneiro had been Chelsea's first-team doctor, "but was then told she could not sit on the bench and would no longer attend matches or training sessions." The FMA statement added, "The FMA strongly believe that in matters pertaining to a player's health and safety, respect for the integrity of the medical professional is paramount. The FMA will continue to offer support to Eva on a professional level through what is likely to be a difficult time" (BBC, 9/23). The PA reported Professional Footballers' Association CEO Gordon Taylor said that "players' health should not be put at risk if team doctors feel any reluctance to go on the field in the wake of Carneiro's departure." Taylor said that "the system -- where referees and players judge whether to call doctors onto the pitch -- worked well" (PA, 9/23).
NO FUTURE AT CHELSEA: In London, Oliver Brown wrote Carneiro sees "no future for herself at Chelsea, having had her reputation traduced by the one man meant to protect her in the public sphere, is nothing less the gravest setback yet in women's torturous and protracted struggle for acceptance in English football." It is a "wretched moment," compounded by the "crassness" with which Mourinho has "handled this sorry episode." Carneiro was one of a "vanishingly small number of women to hold a position of seniority within the game." Carneiro "suffered more than most." She only needed to "step foot on the pitch at Old Trafford last March for some supporters to scream that she was a 's--g' and to tell her to 'get her t--s out for the lads.'" Brown said, "Their behavior is so prevalent that it becomes almost wallpaper noise at our grounds" (TELEGRAPH, 9/23).
