Exclusive: Future of Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro still in doubt after missed meeting

Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro came under fire for coming onto the field to treat Eden Hazard

A HUGE question mark continues to hang over the future of Chelsea club doctor Eva Carneiro after it emerged she was absent from a key meeting with the club's medical staff called by Jose Mourinho on Thursday to discuss the future strategy with regard to injured players.

 

The Chelsea manager finally broke his silence yesterday after it was revealed on Tuesday he had redeployed the 41-year-old away from touchline duties after she ran onto the field during the 2-2 draw against Swansea on Saturday to treat Eden Hazard against his wishes.

He seemed to offer Dr Carneiro an olive branch by hinting that while she and head physio Jon Fearn would not be in the dugout at the Etihad Stadium for the visit to Manchester City tomorrow, "it doesn't mean that can't be in the future".

 

Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro and head physio Jon Fearn treat Chelsea's Eden Hazard

However, when he went on to speak about a clear-the-air meeting with medical staff this week, Mourinho neglected to mention that Dr Carneiro was missing - although Fearn is understood to have been among those present.

Indeed, Dr Carneiro is understood to have taken legal advice about her future options, with the stripping of her match-day duties being seen by many as a potential demotion.

 

Medical bodies within football and beyond have all condemned Mourinho's criticism of Dr Carneiro's actions, saying it should always be the opinion of a trained medical professional when treatment is required and that the Chelsea manager was guilty of failing his "duty of care" to his players if he refused to allow his medical on the team for tactical football reasons.

Certainly Mourinho was in no mood to apologise for his actions or decisions this week, even when put to him that he had a responsibility to set the record straight as the high-profile figure who had brought the whole issue to light.

And when I tried to quiz him specifically on whether Dr Carneiro was at the medical meeting which he claimed drew a line under the whole incident, Mourinho threatened to walk out of the press conference unless the subject was changed.