Football Has Discrimination Problem - Ex-Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro

 

Former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro believes football has a discrimination problem and that sexism is the least challenged of its prejudices. Carneiro claimed constructive dismissal against the West London club and a separate legal action of alleged victimisation and discrimination against Jose Mourinho last year before settling out of court.

Carneiro's claim was over public criticism from Mourinho, then Chelsea manager, for treating Eden Hazard against his wishes during a match against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge, and a subsequent demotion from her first-team duties.

Carneiro, who now runs her own clinic in London, has given her first interview since the case to the the Daily Telegraph. She said “It is one thing to say 'we will end discrimination' and I think it is widely accepted that discrimination exists in the sport, It is widely accepted that football has a discrimination problem. I really do feel that way, but I think sexism is the least challenged form of discrimination. Anti-Semitic and other racist comments are widely condemned and I don't think that is the case (with sexism), and it begs the question (of) what that leaves room for behind the scenes. Growing up I didn't think it (gender inequality) was going to be a problem. It never even occurred to me there would be differences in what we could achieve, or what we were told we could achieve, by being girls or boys. At university, more than 50 percent of the intake in medical school is female, so a female doctor wanting to do anything, from trauma surgery to working in the military, is not surprising. Seeking specialist training in certain sports; male colleagues found that quite surprising. There was very much a dialogue of bringing attention to my gender or objectifying me in some way. They described that as a limit to my career progression in that direction, which I was stunned by. It was a dialogue more appropriate for the 1950s.”