August 14 – It isn’t every day that FIFA enters what appears to be a purely domestic footballing spat unless its rules are in danger of being breached.
But as Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s treatment of his medical staff, in particular first-team club doctor Eva Carneiro, continues to provoke adverse reaction, football’s world governing body has delivered what amounts to a public rebuke.
While keeping her title as club doctor, reports say Carneiro has been banned from matches and training sessions for treating Belgian star Eden Hazard in stoppage time last weekend when defending Premier League champions Chelsea were already down to 10 men against Swansea and trying to win their season-opening game.
Mourinho was apparently furious that the player had to leave the field for treatment and made his feelings known at the time even though both the referee and Hazard beckoned on the doctor.
FIFA may be no stranger to controversy but Professor Jiri Dvorak, its chief medical officer, says managers have no right to tell their medical staff whether or not they should go on the pitch.
Dvorak told Sky he fully backed the actions of Carneiro and physio Jon Fearns. “In medical aspects, in medical diagnosis, the manager has nothing to say,” he said. “This is our professional law, and our ethical duty to look after the players’ health.”
Asked if the manager should ever order medical staff team not to enter the field, Dvorak said: “I can’t see such a situation and we have to defend the position of the doctor. Everyone involved has to respect the fact the doctor is in charge.
“I don’t want to interfere with the club as such, but I would endorse clearly what the team doctor and the physiotherapist did. When they were asked, they had to come on to the pitch.”
The comments came as Mourinho prepared to face the media, at his weekly press conference, when he was expected to explain for the first time why Carneiro and Fearn have apparently been punished. Neither are expected to be on the bench for Sunday’s all-important clash at Manchester City.
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