UEFA and Premier League medical experts blasted the Chelsea boss for his treatment of club doctor Eva Carneiro in the Hazardgate scandal.
Mourinho was livid that Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn ran on to the Stamford Bridge pitch to treat Eden Hazard in the closing stages of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Swansea.
It left the Blues with only nine men after keeper Thibaut Courtois’ red card. As a result, both medics have been axed from Chelsea’s bench, starting at title rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
But medical professionals have accused Mourinho of putting results before players’ health.
A Premier League doctors’ group statement read: “Removing Dr Eva Carneiro from the Chelsea team bench for their next match is unjust in the extreme.
Chelsea doctor set to lose place on bench CHELSEA team doctor Eva Carneiro is set to lose her place on the bench for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City
The Chelsea medical staff were clearly summoned on to the field of play by the match referee to attend to a player.
“A refusal to run on to the pitch would have breached the duty of care required of the medical team to their patient.”
Jan Ekstrand, vice-chair of Uefa’s medical committee, said: “Eva is one of the best. This is a case of medical people doing their work and being publicly offended.
“It is an unfair situation. It can be damaging to a person’s career. If a player is on the ground and the referee asks the player if he wants medical assistance and he says yes, it is the duty of the medical people to see if there is a serious injury.”
The Football Medical Association and players’ union, the PFA, also backed the two. FMA chief executive Eamonn Salmon said: “We fully support the actions of our members and colleagues in this incident.
“Factors extraneous to the immediate medical needs of the patient, such as the stage and state of the game, cannot be part of their consideration at such time.”
A PFA statement read: “The health and safety of our members is of paramount importance and the need, when required, for prompt assessment and treatment is critical in ensuring this.
“The player and referee are the initial judges as to whether treatment is required and the matter is then the responsibility of the highly qualified and trained medical staff.
“This protocol has worked successfully in past seasons and we can see no justifiable reason to move away from this.”
Carneiro’s removal also sparked fears it could stop more women moving into football. FA director of participation and development Kelly Simmons MBE said: “That’s obviously an issue for Chelsea.
“What I would say is we want to see more women in all roles in football so hopefully what’s happened in the last 48 hours won’t put off young women wanting to work in what is a fantastic industry.”
This is not the first time Chelsea have been at the centre of a medical row.
Oscar was left dazed after a collision with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina last May and, despite showing symptoms of concussion, the Brazilian was allowed to play on.
Leading neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart, a member of the FA’s expert concussion panel, labelled the decision “completely unacceptable”.
Mourinho has also been left frustrated by striker Diego Costa’s long-term hamstring problems. – Sun UK.
