Eva Carneiro has responded on social media after Jose Mourinho used his Netflix documentary to revisit their bitter dispute from Chelsea. The former club doctor took to X to share her version of events, 11 years after the incident that led to her departure from the club.
Background of the 2015 incident
In August 2015, Carneiro ran onto the pitch during a Chelsea match against Swansea to treat Eden Hazard. Mourinho was angered by her decision, as it left his team with nine men. He publicly criticised her, and she was later removed from matchday duties before leaving the club. Carneiro then took legal action for constructive and unfair dismissal, along with a personal claim against Mourinho, settling at a tribunal.
Mourinho's and Terry's comments
In the documentary, Mourinho called the episode "very, very simple," claiming Hazard was not genuinely injured and that his reaction was justified. Former Chelsea captain John Terry supported his account, saying there was an "understanding" that medical staff would only attend serious injuries.
Carneiro's response
Carneiro posted on X: "11 years on and here we are reliving the worst. Hope they made some money." 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."
She 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." The statement adds that this is governed by General Medical Council standards, and that a club official should have no say in the matter.
Carneiro continued: "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, now manager of Real Madrid, said 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." Terry added: "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."
