London // The English Football Association have come under fire for launching an investigation into its independent board member Heather Rabbatts over her backing of former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro.
Rabbatts had slammed the FA’s handling of Carneiro’s case, describing it as “seriously disappointing”, but she is now facing a complaint from two FA councillors for alleged breach of the FA’s code of conduct.
Carneiro was criticised by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho for rushing onto the pitch to treat Blues midfielder Eden Hazard during the closing minutes of a Premier League match against Swansea in August.
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Mourinho felt Hazard wasn’t injured severely enough to warrant treatment at a time when his team were already playing with 10 men and subsequently removed Carneiro from first-team duties.
She has since left Chelsea, sparking criticism of her treatment, and Lord Herman Ouseley, the chairman of equality group Kick It Out who himself resigned from the FA Council three years ago, said the FA’s leadership should be supporting Rabbatts’ stance.
The campaign group Women in Football called the news “staggering” while the sports minister Tracey Crouch said Rabbatts had done “great work” as chairman of the FA’s inclusion advisory board.
“To hear that Heather Rabbatts is now being investigated for her support of Eva Carneiro is bizarre, and it shows what an antiquated body the FA Council is,” Ouseley said.
“As the only female independent board member, she is in an exposed position but she is there to provide a different voice and as a figurehead for people in the game who feel the whole system is against them.
“This is a moment when the chairman of the FA, Greg Dyke, should stand up and show support for Heather Rabbatts.”
Premier League fixtures (in UAE time)
Saturday
Aston Villa v Swansea, 6pm
Leicester v Crystal Palace, 6pm
Norwich v West Brom, 6pm
Stoke v Watford, 6pm
West Ham v Chelsea, 6pm
Arsenal v Everton, 8.30pm
Sunday
Sunderland v Newcastle, 4pm
Bournemouth v Tottenham, 6.05pm
Manchester United v Manchester City, 6.05pm
Liverpool v Southampton, 8.15pm
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