New
footage of the Eden Hazard incident shows him asking for treatment and
supports claims Chelsea’s medical staff worked within the parameters of
their responsibilities.
The Belgian is shown collecting the ball just inside the Swansea half from
team-mate Radamel Falcao then surging forward.
Hazard changes direction and goes past Ashley Williams before being clipped
by his opponent and falling to the ground.
The 24-year-old looks to be in discomfort when he lands face down and rolls
on to his right side holding his groin then back on to his front with a
pained look on his face.
Hazard remains in that position for a few seconds before referee Mike
Oliver, having booked Williams for the foul, walks over and seems to ask
Hazard if he requires treatment.
Oliver then calls on Chelsea’s medical staff and when they don’t respond at
first, he nods to give them permission to come on at the player’s request.
Physio Jon Fearn enters the field of play first and is quickly followed by
club doctor Eva Carneiro, something which sparks an angry reaction from
manager Jose Mourinho.
He bursts aggressively on to the pitch himself before turning around,
stepping back over the touchline and shouting in the direction of the home
dug-out.
When the medics return back to the technical area after treating Hazard,
Mourinho confronts Carneiro first.
There is an exchange of words between the two, with the Portuguese
animatedly pointing to the pitch and shouting.
Fearn follows Carneiro a few seconds later but avoids eye contact with
Mourinho, who lambasts him while waving his arms theatrically. The physio
does not respond.
Mourinho described the pair as naive after the match but Premier League
rules state Carneiro and Fearn did nothing wrong.
The protocol is when a player goes down, the referee will speak to him and
ask if he wants medical attention.
Hazard appeared to do that in this instance and after Oliver was told to
summon the medics, the match official gestured to the bench twice in order
to allow them to enter the field of play.
A range of medical professionals have backed Carneiro and Fearn, with many
insisting they had a duty of care to Hazard in a situation where he appeared
to be hurt and needing help.
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