CHELSEA Football Club Women striker Sam Kerr has been charged with racially aggravated harassment of a London police officer and will face trial in the United Kingdom.
The 30-year-old Australia captain appeared in court yesterday accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to an officer who was responding to a complaint over a taxi fare in Twickenham, south-west London, on January 30, 2023.
Kerr, who appeared at Kingston crown court via video link, spoke only to confirm her name and to enter a not guilty plea to the charge, the Daily Mail reported today.
“Samantha Kerr, 30 (10.09.93) of Richmond was charged via postal charge requisition on 21 January with a racially aggravated offence under Section 4A Public Order Act 1986,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
“The charge relates to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare on 30 January 2023 in Twickenham.”
Kerr is expected to go to trial for four days in February next year with two police officers scheduled to give evidence.
A statement from Football Australia said it was “aware of the legal proceedings involving Sam Kerr in the United Kingdom.
“As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time,” it added. “Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate.”
Kerr is one of the Australia’s most recognisable sports stars after the Matildas’ run to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup the country co-hosted with New Zealand last year.
Last month, Kerr agreed a contract extension with the current Women’s Super League champions Chelsea but will miss the remainder of the this season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament on a mid-season training camp in Morocco.
Kerr joined Chelsea midway through the 2019/2020 season and has scored 99 goals in 128 games for the team.
She has also won the Golden Boot twice and was runner-up to Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí at the Ballon d’Or awards last year.
