Heather Rabbatts slams FA handling of Eva Carneiro case

London - The Football Association (FA) has been strongly criticized by one of its own board members for its handling of the case of former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro.

Carneiro was dropped from first team duties after an incident on the opening day of the season when she and physio Jon Hearn were criticised by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho for going on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard.

The 42-year-old has since parted company with Chelsea and Heather Rabbatts, an independent board member and the head of the FA's inclusion advisory board, is unhappy with the governing body's disciplinary process in the case.

Mourinho was cleared by the FA on Wednesday of making discriminatory comments towards Carneiro, but it has emerged that the FA made no attempt to interview Carneiro or even ask for a witness statement.

Related: Report: Mourinho won't face FA action over alleged verbal abuse of Eva Carneiro

"The FA's reaction to the treatment of Dr Eva Carneiro has been seriously disappointing," Rabbatts said on Thursday.

"I have major concerns over the way in which the disciplinary process has been conducted and the lack of an organisational response to the wider issues raised by this case.

"We had an announcement late yesterday relating to a high-profile incident which occurred on August 8 and yet it would appear that during that time no witnesses were requested to speak to the FA, including Dr Carneiro, and in the course of the investigation some media were reporting it was likely that no charge was to be brought.

"This is on top of a previous case when clear evidence of sexist and abusive chanting from groups of supporters against Dr Carneiro was apparently not seen as sufficient for a charge to be raised."