Chelsea Striker Sam Kerr to Face Trial for Racially Aggravated Harassment of Police Officer
Australian team captain and Chelsea forward, Sam Kerr, is set to face trial in the UK after being charged with the racially aggravated harassment of a London police officer.
The Incident
According to a statement released by the Metropolitan Police, the charges are in relation to an incident that occurred in Twickenham on 30th January, 2023 involving a taxi fare. Kerr was charged on 21st January 2024, and pleaded not guilty via video link at the Kingston Crown Court on Monday. The four day trial is scheduled for February next year.
Public Reaction
The news of Kerr’s charges have made waves in the international football community. Football Australia (FA) and the Australian team coach Tony Gustavsson have both expressed surprise at the news of the charges, both saying that they were unaware of Kerr’s legal troubles until the news broke on Tuesday morning.
FA boss James Johnson has told reporters that the FA are seeking more information about the situation, and that it is too early to comment on whether Kerr’s situation will affect her captaincy of the Australian team. "Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field," Football Australia said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate."
About Sam Kerr
At age 30, Kerr is the current all-time leading scorer in international football for Australia, with 64 goals in 125 national games and 99 goals in 128 matches for Chelsea since joining in 2019. She's adored by fans worldwide and made history as the first woman on the cover of EA Sports' FIFA 2023. Kerr's impressive resume boasts four WSL titles, three FA Cups, two Women's League Cups, and the Women's Community Shield. BEyond her on-pitch successes, Kerr has helped to boost corporate sponsorships for the Australian women's team, as well as having her own deals with Nike and Mastercard. Unfortunately, Kerr has been out of action since January due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during Chelsea's warm weather training in Morocco.
