An ugly situation has just turned even more repulsive.
The rights and wrongs of what Joe Mourinho may or may not have said to Eva Carneiro as she made her way past the Chelsea manager in August can be debated another time, but the investigation by the FA into the matter now seems entirely flawed.
The Football Association was forced into launching a probe after a member of the public complained that the Chelsea doctor was the victim of sexist tirade by the former Real Madrid manager in the draw with Swansea on August 8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1NlKMozQIk
She was stripped of her match day duties and subsequently left her job at the club while the FA continued their investigations.
However that probe that came to a sudden and unexpected halt on Thursday as the FA announced it found that Mourinho had no case to answer.
The FA chairman, Greg Dyke, called on the Chelsea boss to apologise for his behaviour, but the former Porto boss refused to be drawn on Dyke’s comments, or the investigation at today’s pre-match press conference.
However Eva Carneiro has today spoken out and made an allegation that she was not contacted by the FA during any investigation into what allegedly took place:
“I was surprised to learn that the FA was allegedly investigating the incident of 8 August via the press. I was at no stage requested by the FA to make a statement. I wonder whether this might be the only formal investigation in this country where the evidence of the individuals involved in the incident was not considered relevant. Choosing to ignore some of the evidence will surely influence the outcome of the findings.”
It seems more than odd that person at the centre of a complaint would not be asked for her version of events while Carneiro has also detailed sexist abuse she received previously while employed at Chelsea.
“Last season I had a similar experience at a game at West Ham FC, where I was subject to verbal abuse. Following complaints by the public, the FA produced a communication to the press saying there had been no sexist chanting during this game. At no time was I approached for a statement despite the fact that vile unacceptable, sexually explicit abuse was clearly heard.”
It’s believed that Carneiro’s contract did not allow her personally make a complaint against Mourinho but that the FA could have asked her for a statement, which they seemingly failed to do, though the Guardian report that the “FA’s position is that its regulatory team asked Carneiro’s lawyers if she wished to provide any evidence”.
However the matter may not yet be entirely closed as it’s believed Carneiro taking a wrongful dismissal case against the club.
