The relationship between Dr. Eva Carneiro and Chelsea appears to have come to an end, and the acrimony is building toward a boiling point.
Carneiro has decided to leave Chelsea and is considering taking legal action against the reigning Premier League champion, The BBC and The Mail’s Matt Lawton reported Tuesday. Carneiro’s departure comes six weeks after Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho publicly criticized her for treating Eden Hazard — on the orders of referee Michael Oliver — during the Blues’ draw with Swansea City on the opening weekend of the season.
Mourinho immediately banned Carneiro and Jon Fearn, Chelsea’s physiotherapist, from the bench and banned the club doctor of five years from its games, practice sessions and hotel. A Chelsea spokesperson refused to comment, calling it an “internal matter.”
Chelsea ordered Carneiro to return to its practice facility on Friday, but she declined to do so that day and on Monday and Tuesday.
“Chelsea may argue that her failure to show for work could weaken her case for constructive dismissal, even though arriving at Cobham would have amounted to accepting the new terms of her employment after being publicly stripped of first team duties,” Lawton reports.
“Sportsmail understands that Chelsea are aware that the Gibraltar-born medic is consulting top employment lawyers.”
Mourinho has faced heavy criticism for his treatment of Carneiro, a respected medical professional and one of the most high-profile women in English soccer. England’s Football Association is investigating his sideline outburst against Carneiro. The FA could ban him for as many as five games if it finds him guilty of using abusive language.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@itvnews
