Chelsea’s Sam Kerr faces trial over racial harassment of police officer

Chelsea striker, Sam Kerr, will stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to alleged racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.

The Australia international appeared in court on Monday, March 4, 2024, after being charged with using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to a police officer during an incident in Twickenham, London in the United Kingdom, on January 30.

Kerr, one of the highest profile and best-paid players in the women’s game, attended the hearing via videolink and pleaded not guilty.

A four-day trial is now slated to take place in February 2025.

The alleged dispute was sparked when a police officer responded to a “complaint involving a taxi fare”, the police said in a statement.

Kerr is one of Australian football’s most treasured figures, and last year graced the cover of the FIFA video game alongside French superstar, Kylian Mbappe.

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Governing body Football Australia said it was “aware of the legal proceedings involving Sam Kerr in the United Kingdom”.

The governing body, in a statement, added: “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.

“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.”

The Matildas captain has been credited with helping drive the booming popularity of the women’s game – both in her native Australia and abroad.

Kerr made her full international debut against Italy in 2009, a precocious talent aged just 15 years old at the time.

The 2023 Ballon d’Or runner-up scored the only goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup final.

As her star has continued to rise over the years, Kerr has inked lucrative endorsement deals with the likes of Nike and Mastercard.

The 30-year-old striker has scored 99 goals in 128 career games for English heavyweights Chelsea – but is currently sidelined after suffering a serious knee injury.

The injury – a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament – has cast a major shadow over Kerr’s hopes of playing for Australia at this year’s Paris Olympics which start in July.

The Star