Former Chelsea physio Eva Carneiro has hit out at Jose Mourinho and John Terry following comments made about her in the three-part Netflix docu-series, MOURINHO.
Carneiro and Mourinho were involved in a highly publicized dispute that began in August 2015 during Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Swansea City. In that season’s opener, Eden Hazard went down injured in the dying embers of the game, and referee Michael Oliver waved for medical staff to attend to the Belgian winger.
The Gibraltarian doctor and chief physiotherapist, Jon Fearn, entered the pitch and treated Hazard. This forced the Blues’ star man to leave the field before play could resume, but the hosts were already down to 10 men following Thibaut Courtois’ sending off.
This meant Mourinho’s troops would have to see the game, which finished 2-2, out with just nine players, and it inevitably left the Portuguese coach fuming. He vented his frustrations at Carneiro, with footage appearing to show him directing profanities in Portuguese at the physio once she returned to the bench.
Mourinho and Terry Recall Carneiro Clash
Carneiro and Mourinho’s relationship soured, and eventually she was stripped of matchday and first-team duties, banned from training and not allowed to stay in the team hotel. A few weeks later, she officially parted ways with the Premier League club, but that wasn’t the last of a lengthy ordeal.
The 52-year-old launched legal proceedings against Chelsea, claiming she was forced to resign, while making a claim against Mourinho for sex discrimination and harassment. An employment tribunal took place in June 2016, and the club issued an apology as backlash against the West London outfit and its manager intensified.
Mourinho recalled his falling out with Carneiro in his new Netflix docu-series, and he explained why he approached the situation with such anger:
“For me, a lady doctor is the same as a man’s doctor. So, as always, I use 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, with football background, they go over it in one second. In that case, it was different.”
The newly-appointed Real Madrid boss added that he knew ‘when a player is not injured’ and that he knew Hazard ‘was not injured.’ His former Chelsea captain Terry defended him when interviewed for the docu-series:
“Medically, he would say unless it’s really, really bad, then they’re [the team doctors] not coming on. That was the understanding for 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. There was a lot of heat on the football club.”
After the tribunal, Carneiro reached a confidential financial settlement with the club, but she has now spoken out following the docu-series. She has condemned Mourinho and Terry’s assessments of the incident and advised them to ‘learn the rules of the game’.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Carneiro Fires Back at Ex-Chelsea Duo
Carneiro’s first post on X lifted the lid on how she felt at the time and how she’s having to relive the incident again. She posted a picture of herself on the bench with the caption: “11 years on and here we are reliving the worst. Hope they made some money.”
The sports physician took umbrage with Terry’s comments, writing: “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.”
Carneiro then posted a screenshot of rules stated by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine. She delved into the incident and defended her role as a medical professional:
“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.”
Carneiro has looked to put the bust-up with Mourinho behind her, venturing into private medical practice, which includes practicing at private facilities, including in Harley Street, London. She also worked as a consultant at the 2022 World Cup and continues to be involved in football as a co-owner of Lewes FC, the first professional club to pay men and women equally.
