The
group Women in Football say they are "appalled" at the FA’s decision to take
no action against Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho over his touchline dispute
with Dr Eva Carneiro.
Mourinho criticised Carneiro for going on to the pitch along with physio Jon
Fearn to treat midfielder Eden Hazard during their first game of the season
against Swansea.
There had been suggestions Mourinho used abusive language towards Carneiro
but the FA concluded on Wednesday they were "satisfied that the words used
do not constitute discriminatory language under FA Rules".
That analysis is disputed by Women in Football, a network of professional
women working in and around football, who also employed the services of a
language expert to determine whether Mourinho had used unacceptable language
towards Carneiro.
"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," read a statement on their
official website.
"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.
Concerned
"Once again we are concerned by what we can only perceive as serious flaws
in the process of such investigations. It is also disappointing that even on
the day this investigation was announced by the FA, reports had already
appeared in the media suggesting that Mr Mourinho was unlikely to be
charged.
"The conclusion from the investigation also leads us to question the FA's
commitment to referees and medics. If a similar incident were to occur in
the future should the medic listen to the club manager not the referee in
charge of the game? This sets a disturbing precedent.
"At a time when the Department of Culture, Media and Sport are looking into
how to improve the landscape for women in the football industry, and more
generally engaging women and girls in sport, this latest episode sends out a
seriously worrying counter message to those efforts."
The FA subsequently decided to defend its process in response to Women in
Football's statement.
"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 FA said.
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