Eva Carneiro has responded on social media after Jose Mourinho used a Netflix documentary to revisit the controversy from their time together at Chelsea. In August 2015, Carneiro, then the Chelsea club doctor, ran onto the pitch during a match against Swansea to treat Eden Hazard. Mourinho was angry that her action left his side down to nine men and publicly criticised her. She was removed from matchday duties and later left the club, subsequently launching legal action for constructive and unfair dismissal, which was settled at a tribunal.
Mourinho and Terry's version of events
In the new self-titled Netflix documentary, Mourinho, now Real Madrid boss, described the incident as "very, very simple," saying Hazard was not really injured, that Carneiro was at fault, and that his reaction was justified. Chelsea legend John Terry supports Mourinho's account, claiming there was an "understanding" that medical staff would only treat obviously bad injuries.
Carneiro's response
Carneiro has now had her say on X, writing: "11 years on and here we are reliving the worst. Hope they made some money," alongside a photo of herself at Chelsea. In a second post, she added: "We are bound by a medico-legal code of conduct. Genuinely it would be healthy for John Terry to learn the rules of the game. It’s been long enough mate #rulesofthegame #PremierLeague #EnglishFootball #MedicalGovernance #specialones."
Medical duty of care
Carneiro also shared a statement from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, which says: "When the medical team, at any level of football, are requested to attend a player by the referee, it is their absolute duty of care to attend and assess the player. This is governed by standards of medical practice issued by the General Medical Council (GMC). A club official should have no say in this matter and the stage of the game has no relevance on the decisions of the medical team acting within the GMC code of practice. To discourage a doctor's duty of care to an athlete shows a disregard for player welfare and good medical practice. It is important that all responsible bodies continue to engage with the medical profession in order to establish this principal across all levels of the game."
Carneiro then wrote: "So IT IS really simple. Referee Michael Oliver called us on TWICE, player Eden Hazard requested medical assistance we then made eye contact from side line and he confirmed he needed medical assistance, TWICE. At that point my hands are bound as a medical professional."
Mourinho, however, maintains his view, saying in the film: "The story was very, very simple. I’m not a doctor but my eyes know when a player is injured and when a player is not injured. I knew Eden was not injured but the doctors went on to the pitch and we were left with nine players. For me, a lady doctor is the same as a man doctor. So, as always, I used my vocabulary when I’m not happy. There are words in moments where the tension is very, very high. Normally, people with football culture, with football DNA or with a football background get over it in one second. In that case, it was different."
Terry adds: "Medically, Jose would say unless it’s really, really bad, then they’re not coming on. That was the understanding of us as players, the medical staff, everyone bought into that. It was a big moment obviously and he took a lot of backlash for that."
