Chelsea FC: Jose Mourinho And Eva Carneiro Court Date Set
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Chelsea FC manager Jose Mourinho and former club doctor Eva Carneiro will head to court in the New Year.
The Blues boss berated Carneiro during Chelsea’s opening day 2-2 draw with Swansea City. The doctor ran onto the field to attend to an injured Eden Hazard, thus leaving the team with just nine players on the pitch after Thibaut Courtois was sent off.
Carneiro was subsequently stipped of her matchday duties but her very public altercation with Mourinho led to her leaving the club altogether. With the situation turning fairly ugly, the doctor’s lawyers served notice of legal proceedings on the Blues boss a while ago. Now, Sky Sports reports that the respective parties will meet in a private hearing on January 6th for the initial stage of what could easily be a long and draw-out affair.
"Carneiro’s lawyers will be claiming for reinstatement in her role as First Team Doctor, damages for sex discrimination from manager Jose Mourinho as well as personal injury compensation and aggravated damages from the club."
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While the dispute was certainly concerning to witness, little did we know that it would set the precedent for a tumultuous Chelsea season.
Mourinho’s treatment of the Gibraltar-born medic was widely and universally condemned as unacceptable. His disregard for the concept of respect coupled with the sentiment that the abuse was wholly unjustified meant that few were in his corner. Carneiro was duty-bound to prioritise the health of the players and referee Michael Oliver had even waived her and physio Jon Fearn onto the pitch.
The Chelsea manager’s reaction resulted in accusations of sexism and misogyny, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the FA.
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However, with the FA’s jurisdiction limited to the game, Carneiro and her legal team are (rightly) pursuing appropriate compensation in the courts.
Sky reports that neither subject is likely to attend this first meeting in person, but should their representatives fail to reach a settlement during the allotted time, the process will extend to a full tribunal hearing sometime in June.
With the pressure mounting on Mourinho, distractions such as this are the last things that he needs. Having said that, he has no-one to blame but himself. His actions were uncalled for and he is simply facing the punishment that he deserves.
Carneiro is/was the most high-profile woman operating in the men’s game. However, the altercation with the Blues boss did little but set the game back, especially should accusations of sexism be proven true.
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It is worth pointing out at this time that everything that is up for consideration are still mere accusations, but it is quite evident that Mourinho will have to deal with some sort of repercussion.