Sam Kerr, the renowned footballer from Chelsea and Australia, is set to stand trial in the UK on allegations of racially aggravated harassment against a police officer.
The 30-year-old athlete made her appearance in court on Monday, facing accusations of using insulting, threatening, or abusive language that caused distress to an officer.
The incident reportedly occurred during a response to a complaint regarding a taxi fare in Twickenham, located in south-west London, on January 30, 2023.
Sam Kerr, who participated in the court proceedings via video link at Kingston Crown Court, solely confirmed her identity and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge, as reported.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police announced:
“Samantha Kerr, aged 30 (born on September 10, 1993), residing in Richmond, was charged via postal charge requisition on January 21 with a racially aggravated offense under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986.”
“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 anticipated to stand trial in February next year, with two police officers slated to provide testimony. The trial is projected to span four days.
A statement from Football Australia acknowledged the ongoing 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.”
As the captain of Australia’s national team, Sam Kerr stands as one of the country’s most prominent sports figures, especially following the Matildas’ impressive journey to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last year.
In May, Kerr had the honor of carrying her country’s flag during the coronation of King Charles at Westminster Abbey.
Last month, Kerr extended her contract with Chelsea, the reigning champions of the Women’s Super League.
Unfortunately, she will be sidelined for the remainder of the current season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained during a mid-season training camp in Morocco.
Kerr made her move to Chelsea midway through the 2019-20 season and has since netted an impressive 99 goals in 128 games for the team.
Her accolades include winning the Golden Boot twice, securing the runner-up position to Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí at the Ballon d’Or awards last year, and ranking second on the Guardian’s list of the top 100 female footballers in 2023, following her third-place finishes in 2021 and 2022.