FIFA’s medical committee’s head has confirmed that he will be offering his support to Eva Carneiro, Chelsea’s former doctor, in her case against the club.
Carneiro is currently in the process of suing the defending Premier League champions for constructive dismissal, whilst also getting involved in an individual legal action against the Blues’ manager Jose Mourinho.
The former club doctor was dropped from being involved with first-team duties in the aftermath of Chelsea’s game against Swansea City on the opening day of the season. Carneiro ran on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard after the winger lay injured on the floor and the referee, Michael Oliver, had waved the medical staff on numerous times.
Mourinho, however, was not impressed with her decision and called her ‘naive’ after the game. Chelsea were already down to 10 men after Thibaut Courtois had been sent off for taking out Swansea’s striker Bafetimbi Gomis. The fact that Carneiro and Jon Fearn, Chelsea’s physiotherapist, treated Hazard meant he had to be removed from the field of play, leaving the Blues with nine men for a period of time towards the end of the match.
Mourinho came under criticism for his post-match comments, including the suggestion that even if Carneiro were a ‘secretary on the bench’ she should show a better understanding of the rules of the game. The self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ was cleared of using discriminatory language by the Football Association, however.
FIFA’s medical chief, Michel D’Hooghe, said, “Of course I support Eva Carneiro. She did her job, she did her duty – when somebody is medically in trouble she has to intervene. Of course she has my support and the whole medical committee’s. I have had email contact with her and she is very happy with the global support of the medical world in football”.
The FIFA chief also said that he would help her find a new job in football, even if it was likely that she might struggle to begin with. He added, “I can imagine that in the short term she might have some problems with that. But with her personality and her competence she must certainly have a great future and if I can help her I will do it”.