LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will face no action after the Football Association cleared him of making discriminatory comments towards then club doctor Eva Carneiro.

The pair had a confrontation on the touchline towards the end of the Blues’ opening game of the season against Swansea, with Mourinho afterwards criticising Carneiro for going on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard. Carneiro has since parted company with the club.

There had been suggestions Mourinho had used abusive language towards Carneiro but the FA, after analysing audio footage of the incident, announced it “is 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.”

That meant the Blues were temporarily down to nine men – goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ahead already been sent off – after Hazard left the field, and although the incident did not have an impact on the result Carneiro and Fearn were criticised for being “impulsive and naive” by Mourinho.

Annoucement

The Portuguese’s comments attracted plenty of scorn, but the 52-year-old was unrepentant and earned further condemnation when it was announced Carneiro would no longer attend club matches or training sessions.

Earlier this month it was announced Carneiro had parted company with the Blues.

The FA later added: “The linguistic was native Portuguese and has taught at the highest level universities in both Portugal and the UK with many published works on both Portuguese lexicography and lexicology and Portuguese linguistics including modern day vernacular.”

The Football Association felt moved to defend its process after Women in Football declared itself “appalled by the decision” and questioned the FA’s verdict.

A statement said: “Women in Football (WiF) are appalled by the conclusion of the FA investigation into Jose Mourinho’s conduct during, and following, Chelsea’s match against Swansea on 8th August 2015.

“Contrary to the FA’s appointed expert’s advice, which WiF has not seen, our own language expert made it abundantly clear that the abusive words used by Mr Mourinho on the touchline that day were specifically directed towards a woman, as indicated by the grammar of his sentence. Other Portuguese speakers we contacted in gathering evidence also emphasised this point. We therefore find it extraordinary that any expert or Portuguese speaker would report otherwise.

“WiF can only conclude that this latest investigation provides yet another damning example of the FA failing to tackle discrimination, specifically sexism, in the football industry. Once again we are concerned by what we can only perceive as serious flaws in the process of such investigations.”

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