Jose
Mourinho is to be the subject of an individual legal claim from former
Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro.
Legal papers will be served on Mourinho this week as part of separate but
connected claims against him and against the club.
It means that Mourinho will have to appear in person at an employment
tribunal unless the case is settled out of court beforehand.
Under employment law, an individual can be personally liable for damages if
victimisation or discrimination can be proved.
The claim against Mourinho will be on the basis that he was instrumental in
the actions against Carneiro in having her dropped from first-team duties
and effectively demoted.
The latest development will heap even more pressure on the 52-year-old who
has seen his side lose six out of 11 matches in the Premier League so far to
leave the reigning champions in 15th spot in the table.
The controversy over Carneiro goes back to August 8, the opening day of the
season, when Mourinho criticised her and head physio Jon Fearn for going on
to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard after being called on by referee Michael
Oliver.
The action meant that Chelsea were temporarily down to nine men against
Swansea, and afterwards Mourinho called Carneiro and Fearn "impulsive and
naive".
Carneiro did not appear on the bench again for first-team duties and is now
seeking a claim for constructive dismissal after parting company with the
club.
The doctor's lawyers said neither she nor they could comment as the case is
sub judice. Chelsea did not respond when asked if they wished to comment.
Mourinho was cleared of using discriminatory language towards her following
an investigation by the Football Association, which caused further
controversy after Carneiro revealed she had not been spoken to personally
during the investigation, nor asked to provide any statement.
The FA's chief executive Martin Glenn and head of governance Darren Bailey
are to be quizzed about the handling of the case by the governing body's
Inclusion Advisory Board (IAB) later this month.
The IAB's chair Heather Rabbatts is under investigation by the FA following
her comments criticising officials for not speaking to Carneiro in person
during the Mourinho investigation.
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