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Chelsea striker and Matildas captain, Sam Kerr, is set to undergo trial after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of a London police officer. The 30-year-old Australian international entered a plea of not guilty during a court hearing on Monday, as confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The alleged incident, which occurred in January 2023, involved a police officer responding to a complaint regarding a taxi fare in Twickenham, according to a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police. Kerr was subsequently charged with a racially aggravated offense under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986.
Despite denying the charge at a plea and trial preparation hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court, Kerr faces trial and is scheduled to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on 1 February 2025. Presently, she is sidelined due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during the club’s warm weather training camp in Morocco in January.
Kerr’s prolific career at Chelsea since joining the club in 2019 includes scoring 99 goals in 128 matches. She holds the record as her country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 64 goals in 125 games.
In response to the news, Football Australia’s chief executive, James Johnson, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, asserting that there is no place for racism in the sport. However, he also underscored Kerr’s rights to natural justice and procedural rights.
Regarding Kerr’s status as the national team’s captain amidst the pending court case, Johnson stated that the governing body would await further information before making any decisions. He expressed his intent to gather facts surrounding the incident.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson expressed surprise at the allegations and shared positive sentiments about his experiences with Kerr as both a person and a footballer. Kerr’s accomplishments during her time at Chelsea, including numerous titles and nominations for the Ballon d’Or Féminin, highlight her prominence in women’s football.
