Mourinho makes surprise appearance at tribunal

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Tuesday made a surprise appearance at an employment tribunal brought against him by former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro, according to the Press Association.

The tribunal is examining a claim of constructive dismissal against Chelsea and a connected, personal legal action against Portuguese boss Mourinho, who left the Blues in December, for alleged victimisation and sexual discrimination.

London South Employment Tribunal in suburban Croydon heard on Monday that new Manchester United manager was likely to be questioned for at least a day during the case, which is expected to take seven to 10 days.

British media had reported he was due to speak next week.

Carneiro alleges she was sexually discriminated against by Chelsea’s then-manager Mourinho shouting “filha da puta” at her — Portuguese for daughter of a whore after she ran on the pitch during a match.

An extract from a statement by Mourinho was read out on Monday.

In it he claimed he was known for regularly using the term “filho da puta”, meaning son of a whore, and had done so throughout the match in question last August.

A skeleton argument submitted to the tribunal on behalf of Chelsea and Mourinho said Carneiro had been “made an open offer of £1.2 million ($1.73 million, 1.52 million euros) to settle her claims”.

Mourinho dropped Carneiro as Chelsea’s first team doctor after the Blues’ opening match of last season in the English Premier League, a 2-2 draw at home to Swansea on August 8.

Mourinho angrily berated her after she and physio Jon Fearn went on the pitch to treat midfielder Eden Hazard, obliging him to leave the field of play before being readmitted.

The Portuguese boss branded Carneiro and Fearn “impulsive and naive”, saying they failed to understand the match situation.

She did not appear on the bench again for first-team duties and later parted company with Chelsea.