Graeme Le Saux criticises Jose Mourinho over Eva Carneiro incident

Eva Carneiro (R) and physio Jon Fearn (L) treat the injured Eden Hazard in Chelsea’s match against Swansea

Former Chelsea player Graeme Le Saux believes the fallout from the Jose Mourinho-Eva Carneiro incident at Stamford Bridge may have set the game back 30 years, as per reports on the Guardian. Le Saux also fears women will have been discouraged to forge a career in football after Mourinho’s criticism of Carneiro.

Nothing seems to be going right for Chelsea this season. On the pitch, they have made the worst start to their season in 37 years, securing only eight points in the first eight Premier League fixtures. They have an uphill task to revert their form and go back to winning ways which crowned them the champions last season.

A lot of controversies surround the club off the pitch as well. Club manager Mourinho and doctor Carneiro had a clash after she and physio Jon Fearn ran on to treat Eden Hazard late in the draw with Swansea City on August 8th.

The Portuguese tactician was left unimpressed by the doctor’s decision to treat the injured player and called his medical staff “impulsive and naive”. Mourinho is a man under enormous pressure at the Bridge but he luckily escaped the punishment and he was told last month that he would face no action from the FA over allegations he made discriminatory comments towards Carneiro.

Mourinho doesn’t seem to care about the incident and its impact: Le Saux

Le Saux, who’s a former Chelsea player, sits on the Football Association inclusion advisory board and he has criticised the behaviour of the current Blues’ manager, suggesting the game has "gone back 30 years'' because of the saga.

However, the 46-year-old believes significant damage has been inflicted on the game by the episode.

"What concerns me most, given the work I'm doing for the FA, is the impact Mourinho's behaviour may have throughout the whole game.” he said.

"We're trying to deal with some very sensitive issues and to change the culture of the game.”

"Some good people at the FA have taken a kicking after concluding there was insufficient evidence to charge Mourinho, while the whole furore may also deter women from becoming involved in football, as well as discouraging clubs from employing them.”

He further added: "As someone who was privileged to play for Chelsea for 12 years, I'm saddened that it has come to this.”

“If what started out as a straightforward employer-employee issue had been handled differently, these negative issues would not have arisen.”

"The biggest disappointment for me is that Mourinho doesn't seem to have reflected on the damage he has done to his own image, the reputation of the club and, more important, the reputation of the entire game.”

"A lot of people are working very hard to get the game in a better place, but after the last few weeks it feels as if we've gone back 30 years.”

FIFA had stated earlier this year that it would draw up a new code of practice for team doctors in the wake of the controversy. Carneiro has received all the backing and support from the Football Medical association. Heather Rabbatts, who’s the head of FA inclusion advisory board, had recently declared about her disappointment with the FA’s handling of the case.