The departure of Eva Carneiro from Chelsea has raised the prospect of a legal battle between the doctor and her former employers.
Carneiro parted company with Chelsea this week after she was publicly criticised by manager Jose Mourinho.
The dispute begane when she went on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard in the draw against Swansea on the first day of the season.
Chelsea were then temporarily reduced to nine men against Swansea as the Belgian had to leave the field promting a furious response from Mourinho.
The Portuguese boss subsequently 'demoted' her and head physio Jon Fearn by releiving them from matchday duties.
Chelsea and Mourinho's handling of the dispute has been roundly criticised by bodies representing women in sport, the medical profession and the FA.
London Evening Standard digital sports editor Amar Singh believes the entire dispute has been a 'PR disaster from day one for Chelsea."
He told London Live: "Dr Carneiro is one of the few prominent women working in football and by going against her in this way they have created a PR disaster. Chelsea need to avoid a messy legal dispute with a doctor who has a lot of public support behind her."
