Thursday 15 October 2015 08:46, UK
Graeme Le Saux believes the fallout from the Jose Mourinho-Eva Carneiro incident at Stamford Bridge may have "set the game back 30 years".
And Le Saux, a former Chelsea player who now has an advisory role with the Football Association, has criticised the behaviour of the current Blues' manager.
Chelsea's club doctor Carneiro left her role in west London following a clash with Mourinho, after she and physio Jon Hearn ran on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard during their Premier League opener against Swansea on August 8.
Following an investigation into the matter, the Portuguese was told he would face no action from the FA over allegations he made discriminatory comments towards Carneiro who departed Stamford Bridge on September 22.
Le Saux wrote in The Times: "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.
"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, whilst the whole furore may also deter women from becoming involved in football, as well as discouraging clubs from employing them.
"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.
Mourinho could have reduced the fallout if he had just apologised.
"Mourinho could have reduced the fallout if he had just apologised. You can apologise for your behaviour without apologising for why you did it.
"I wonder if there'll ever be a time that Mourinho accepts his responsibility to the game.
"If you want the rewards for being successful in football, you have to accept responsibilities. To admit you've done wrong, I don't think Mourinho has ever done that.
"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."
