Chelsea striker and Matildas captain Sam Kerr is facing trial after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of a London police officer. The 30-year-old Australia international pleaded not guilty to the offence at a court hearing on Monday, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The incident in question allegedly occurred in January 2023 when Kerr was involved in a complaint involving a taxi fare in Twickenham. She was charged on 21 January with a racially aggravated offence under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986.
Kerr is scheduled to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on 1 February 2025. Despite the charge, she denied the allegations at a plea and trial preparation hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court.
Currently sidelined due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered at Chelsea’s warm weather training camp in Morocco in January, Kerr has scored 99 goals in 128 matches since joining the club in 2019. She is also her country’s all-time record goalscorer with 64 goals in 125 games.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson addressed the situation, stating that there is no place for racism in the sport and that Kerr has rights that need to be respected. The federation is working to establish the facts before deciding on any further steps regarding Kerr’s role as the national team’s captain.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson expressed surprise at the allegations and emphasized his positive experiences with Kerr as both a person and a footballer. Kerr’s achievements at Chelsea include winning four WSL titles, three FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups, and the Women’s Community Shield. She has also been nominated for the Ballon d’Or Féminin every year since 2018, finishing as the runner-up last year.
