FA ‘take no action’ against Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho over alleged Eva Carneiro tirade

The action over which Eva Carneiro was criticised by Jose Mourinho as she tends to Eden Hazard during the opening Premier League match against Swansea City. Ian Kington / AFP

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will face no disciplinary action by the English Football Association after the governing body cleared him on Wednesday of using “discriminatory language” towards then club doctor Eva Carneiro.

Both Carneiro and physiotherapist Jon Fearn were rebuked by Mourinho for running on to treat Eden Hazard during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Swansea City on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, a move which temporarily left the English champions with nine players on the field.

Carneiro, 42, was subsequently removed from match-day duties last month and has since left the London club.

Her treatment led to widespread criticism of Mourinho, amid allegations that he had verbally abused Carneiro on the touchline during the Swansea match while speaking in his native Portuguese.

However the FA, who consulted an “independent academic expert in Portuguese”, said Wednesday they were “satisfied that the words used do not constitute discriminatory language under FA Rules”.

The FA said in a statement: “Following information brought to the attention of the FA regarding Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and alleged discriminatory comments made in the Premier League fixture between Swansea and Chelsea on 8 August, The FA has now concluded an investigation into the matter.

“The matter was brought to the attention of the FA on 8 September and led to the appointment of an independent academic expert in Portuguese linguistics to analyse the footage of the incident which included the audio recording.

“After receiving the report from the expert, the FA is satisfied that the words used do not constitute discriminatory language under FA Rules.

“Furthermore, both the words used, as translated and analysed by the independent expert, and the video evidence, do not support the conclusion that the words were directed at any person in particular.

“Consequently, on the evidence available to it, the FA will take no further action in relation to this matter.”

Following the Swansea game, Mourinho said: “I was unhappy with my medical staff. They were impulsive and naive.

“Whether you are a kit man, doctor or secretary, on the bench you have to understand the game.”

Carneiro, born in Gibraltar to a Spanish father and English mother, thanked people on Facebook for their support in the aftermath of the incident, but has not spoken publicly since.

Earlier this month, Chelsea announced Carneiro had left Stamford Bridge. This led to widespread speculation in the British press that she would bring legal action against Chelsea for constructive dismissal.

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