By Andrew Warshaw
June 7 – Chelsea and Jose Mourinho have reached a confidential undisclosed settlement with former team doctor Eva Carneiro at an employment tribunal in London, bringing to an end one of the less savoury episodes in English football.
Carneiro had claimed constructive dismissal by the Premier League club and sexual discrimination by Mourinho who made a surprise appearance Tuesday at the tribunal which had been expected to run into next week.
Carneiro had rejected an earlier offer of £1.2 million according to documents submitted to the tribunal .
The case, which has heaped embarrassment on Chelsea, related to the opening game of last season when Carneiro angered Mourinho, Chelsea’s then-manager, by running on to the pitch with a physio to treat playmaker Eden Hazard in the closing stages of the fixture against Swansea.
Mourinho called Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn “impulsive and naive” because their action temporarily left Chelsea with nine men, with another player already dismissed. The way Carneiro was treated, including a ban from the bench and first-team duties, was widely criticised across the sport’s medical profession
Mourinho, who has been cleared by the Football Association of making discriminatory comments, won the Premier League three times in two spells as Chelsea manager but was fired in December after a dreadful run of results and has just been appointed manager Manchester United.
In a statement Chelsea said the club “regretted the circumstances” that led to Carneiro taking legal action and issued an unreserved apology.
“We wish to place on record that in running on to the pitch Dr Carneiro was following both the rules of the game and fulfilling her responsibility to the players as a doctor, putting their safety first,” the club said.
“Dr Carneiro has always put the interests of the club’s players first. Dr Carneiro is a highly competent and professional sports doctor.”
“She was a valued member of the club’s medical team and we wish her every success in her future career.”
Caneiro, 42, issued a statement saying she was relieved the long-running saga had come to an end. “It has been an extremely difficult and distressing time for me and my family and I now look forward to moving forward with my life,” she said.
“My priority has always been the health and safety of the players and fulfilling my duty of care as a doctor. In running onto the pitch to treat a player, who requested medical attention, I was following the rules of the game and fulfilling my medical responsibilities,”
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me including my husband, family and friends and members of the football community.”
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