Former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has made a social media post that appears to be a thinly veiled jab at her former manager Jose Mourinho, following his remarks about their well-publicized touchline incident in a new Netflix documentary. Mourinho's three-part series, titled MOURINHO, released recently, features the Portuguese manager discussing the 2015 incident for the first time in over a decade.
In the documentary, Mourinho stated, "For me, a lady doctor is the same as a man’s doctor." He addressed the incident where he publicly criticized Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn for entering the pitch to treat Eden Hazard during a Premier League match against Swansea City. Mourinho argued that the medical staff's decision to attend to Hazard, whom he believed was not seriously injured, left his team with nine players on the field after Thibaut Courtois had already been sent off.
During the initial confrontation, Mourinho was heard using expletives toward Carneiro and Fearn. Carneiro later claimed that Mourinho had discriminated against her and used offensive language in Portuguese. She was subsequently removed from first-team duties and left Chelsea a month later. Mourinho was quoted calling her "impulsive and naive" in his first public reaction to the incident at the time.
Mourinho and Chelsea eventually reached a settlement after Carneiro initiated tribunal proceedings for claims of discrimination and constructive dismissal. While Chelsea issued an unreserved apology to Carneiro and her family for the distress caused, the terms of the settlement remain confidential. Reports from the tribunal suggested Chelsea had offered £1.2 million to settle the matter.
In the documentary, Mourinho reiterated his stance that he treated Carneiro as he would any doctor making what he perceived as a mistake, emphasizing that "a lady doctor is the same as a man’s doctor." He suggested that individuals with "football culture" would typically move past such disagreements quickly.
Hazard, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea, commented in the documentary that the incident "was nothing special" but noted that "with Jose everything is bigger."
Coinciding with the release of Mourinho's comments, Carneiro posted on social media, "Bom Dia. I have an announcement to make. A truly Special One. A project close to my heart which I have been working on for years and is almost ready for launch. Not an old set piece! Watch this space. This autumn!!!!" She included a winky face emoji in her post, a reference that many interpreted as a light-hearted response to Mourinho's "Special One" nickname. Mourinho's documentary explores his career and personal life, offering his perspective on significant moments, including the controversial incident with Carneiro. The former Chelsea doctor's social media activity suggests she is embarking on a new professional venture. She stated that this new project has been in development for years and is set to launch in the autumn.
Mourinho, now managing Real Madrid, has maintained his position regarding the touchline incident, asserting his belief that he treated Carneiro impartially. The Netflix series provides him a platform to revisit this period, while Carneiro's social media post signals her own forward momentum in her career.