Top Doctors Call For Clarity  (Sky Sports)

Chairman of the Premier League Doctors' Group, Mark Gillett, has said there should be greater clarity in the role of medics working in football after Chelsea reached a settlement with former first-team doctor Eva Carneiro.

Chelsea also issued an unreserved apology to the doctor, who had issued tribunal proceedings against the club over claims she was constructively dismissed by her employers and discriminated against by former Blues manager, Jose Mourinho.

It was revealed on Monday that Carneiro had turned down a £1.2 million compensation offer from Chelsea.

Speaking on behalf of doctors at top football clubs, Gillett called for a meeting with football authorities before next season.

Gillett told The Times: "Following the situation we have had, it would be useful to sit down with the stakeholders in the game and clarify and strengthen the role of doctors working in football so that the responsibility in the doctor-patient relationship on the pitch is made crystal clear to everyone in football.

"The FA has not said an awful lot about this and the clarification is needed."

"It has been accepted now that Eva was just observing good medical practice. The Chelsea statement has admitted that she was just performing her role as a doctor and it is in everyone's interests that that is recognised."

Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn were criticised by Mourinho and dropped from first-team duties following a draw with Swansea on the opening day of the 2015/16 Premier League season.

The pair went on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard, an action which meant Chelsea were temporarily down to nine men as they had already had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent off.

The doctor did not appear on the bench again for first-team duties and later parted company with the club, while Fearn continues to be employed by Chelsea and returned to the first-team bench in March.

Chelsea said in a statement: "The club regrets the circumstances which led to Dr Carneiro leaving the club and apologises unreservedly to her and her family for the distress caused.

"We wish to place on record that in running onto the pitch Dr Carneiro was following both the rules of the game and fulfilling her responsibility to the players as a doctor, putting their safety first."