Eva Carneiro slams FA, says she was not contacted about Jose Mourinho

Carneiro, who left Chelsea last week, also complained that the FA failed to contact her for a statement after being the victim of sexist abuse at West Ham last season.

"I was surprised to learn that the FA was allegedly investigating the incident of 8th of August via the press. I was at no stage requested by the FA to make a statement," the 42-year-old said in a statement.

The FA cleared Mourinho of making discriminatory comments to Carneiro during the Blues’ 2-2 draw with Swansea on the opening day of the season.

However, Mourinho’s conduct was criticised by the FA's own chairman Greg Dyke, who said the Portuguese manager should have apologised, while independent board member Heather Rabbatts also condemned the FA's handling of the matter.

In her statement, Carneiro added that the lack of support from football authorities made it "so difficult for women in the game".

Mourinho refused to comment on the case at his press conference ahead of Chelsea's match with Southampton on Saturday.

Mourinho publically criticised Carneiro and head physio Jon Fearn for being "impulsive and naive" and failing to "understand the game" when treating Eden Hazard for an injury on August 8, which briefly left Chelsea with nine men on the pitch against Swansea following Thibaut Courtois' red card.

Carneiro responded with a Facebook post thanking fans for their support, but her and Fearn later saw their roles stripped back – barring them from training sessions, matches and the team hotel. It sparked a public outcry, with many people claiming Chelsea and Mourinho had overreacted, but Carneiro departed the club last week.

A member of the public also made a complaint about a verbal gesture from Mourinho, but the FA – with the assistance of an independent academic expert in Portuguese linguistics – cleared him of being discriminatory under their rules.

Despite the ruling, Dyke said in a letter to FA Council members that Mourinho was in the wrong.

"I don't think Mr Mourinho comes well out of the whole saga -- he clearly made a mistake in the heat of a game, and should have said so and apologised," Dyke said.

"Instead he has said very little and Miss Carneiro has lost her job. Our regulatory team have investigated this and whilst Mr Mourinho has breached no rules, it was clearly a failure of his personal judgement and public behaviour."

Rabbatts also voiced her discontent at the probe.

"I have major concerns over the way in which the disciplinary process has been conducted," said Rabbatts, the head of the FA's inclusion advisory board.

"I was surprised to learn that the FA was allegedly investigating the incident of 8 August via the press. I was at no stage requested by the FA to make a statement.

"I wonder whether this might be the only formal investigation in this country where the evidence of the individuals involved in the incident was not considered relevant. Choosing to ignore some of the evidence will surely influence the outcome of the findings.

"Last season I had a similar experience at a game at West Ham FC, where I was subject to verbal abuse. Following complaints by the public, the FA produced a communication to the press saying there had been no sexist chanting during this game.

"At no time was I approached for a statement despite the fact that vile unacceptable, sexually explicit abuse was clearly heard. It is incidents such as these and the lack of support from the football authorities that make it so difficult for women in the game.

"I admire what Heather Rabbatts has done and thank her and friends and colleagues who have supported me at this very difficult time."