September 23 – Premier League champions Chelsea have been dealt a double blow on and off the field with yet more adverse publicity heaped on the club and their outspoken Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho.
Eva Carneiro, the Chelsea team doctor who was verbally lambasted by Mourinho and had her position downgraded for treating Belgian midfield star Eden Hazard in stoppage time on the opening day of the season when Chelsea already down to 10 men and chasing the game, has decided to leave the club.
Mourinho’s treatment of Carneiro, including a ban from the bench, has been criticised across the sport’s medical profession. It is reported that Chelsea asked her to return to work, but she has decided instead to quit. The Football Association is looking into a complaint that Mourinho used abusive or sexist language towards her.
Mourinho took a swipe at his medical staff, led by Carneiro, describing them as “impulsive and naive” for not considering the match situation before reacting to the referee’s order to check on Hazard who, if he had had to leave the pitch for further treatment, would have reduced Chelsea to nine men.
England’s Women in Football body said it was “bitterly disappointed” about Carneiro’s departure. “We believe it is appalling that her professionalism and understanding of football were subsequently called into question by manager Jose Mourinho and it threatened to undermine her professional reputation,” said a spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Diego Costa, rapidly turning into one of the most despised players in English football, has been handed a three-match man for his antics in last Saturday’s derby clash with Arsenal which was televised across the globe.
The Brazilian-born Spanish international, who was not punished during the game, had denied a subsequent charge of violent conduct for catching Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in the face with both arms.
With lack of consistency by officials a constant talking point, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was furious that Costa was not penalised especially since his own defender Gabriel was dismissed – deservedly so – for a follow-up clash with the same player shortly afterwards.
Reacting to the retrospective action against Costa, Wenger commented: “That is the least they could do, but he will do the same again next week and the week after and he always gets away with it.”
Chelsea, however, said they were “extremely disappointed” by the ban on Costa, not least since Gabriel has had his own three-match ban revoked.
Both clubs still face an outstanding charge of failing to control their players, while Gabriel faces an additional charge of improper conduct for his reaction after being dismissed by referee Mike Dean.
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