Football Australia CEO claims Sam Kerr did not disclose arrest or criminal charge

Football Australia’s CEO has made a bombshell claim over allegations of a racial incident involving Matildas megastar Sam Kerr.

• What triggered the alleged incident
• Kerr’s headline grabbing moments

Matildas’ captain Sam Kerr did not disclose that she was facing a criminal charge in London from her bosses at Football Australia, the organisation’s chief executive James Johnson has claimed.

“I woke up this morning like everyone else did to the news and that’s when Football Australia found out about this unsettling event,’’ Mr Johnson said at a press conference in Adelaide on Tuesday. “We’re trying to get to the bottom of it at the moment. We’ve we’ve got our own questions that we’d like to know we’ve got to find out what actually happened.’’

Mr Johnson was in Adelaide to announce Australia’s best-loved sporting team the Matildas is set to play a blockbuster game at Adelaide Oval for the first time in five years – but the announcement was overshadowed by allegations captain Sam Kerr had been involved in a racially aggravated incident with a UK police officer.

Mr Johnson said the allegations were “very serious” and that there was “no place for racism in our sport”, but remained adamant that it was important to establish the facts of the case before further comment was provided.

Mr Johnson would not comment further but said he had been in touch with Kerr by test to check on her “wellbeing’’. He declined to comment on whether it was appropriate for Kerr not to have informed FA about the charges.

“We need to establish our own facts. This is news to us,’’ he said. “And it’s concerning because of the subject and we need to get our heads around what’s actually happened.’’

Watch the press conference below

On Monday night, Premier Peter Malinauskas revealed that the Matildas would play against China at Adelaide Oval in May in one of their last hit-outs before heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The May 31 game will be the first time the Matildas have played in Adelaide in almost five years and their first match against China since a high-octane 1-1 draw in February 2020, with expectations high the match will sell out.

But the announcement has been clouded by revelations superstar Kerr was accused of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer in Twickenham, UK, on January 30 last year.

The officer was allegedly abused after responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare.

A UK Metropolitan Police Service spokesman said Kerr was charged via a “postal charge requisition” on January 21 this year “with a racially aggravated offence under Section 4A Public Order Act 1986”.

Kerr appeared via videolink in court on Monday for allegedly using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to an officer and is set to face a four-day criminal trial in February next year.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In a statement earlier on Tuesday, Football Australia said it was “aware of the legal proceedings” involving Kerr in the UK.

“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,” a spokesperson said.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate.”

Mr Malinauskas said on Monday the Matildas were “the hottest ticket in the country, so this is a significant coup for our state’’ – and hoped the game would prove a tourism boon for SA.

“To be able to have the Matildas playing at prime time on Friday night at the best sporting venue in the nation is an opportunity too good to miss,” he said.

“I think it’s really important that Football Australia has paid attention to the South Australian market and made the game available here.”

The team played to packed stadiums in Perth and Melbourne after the team’s thrilling run to the World Cup semi-finals last year.

Mr Johnson said the “passion and enthusiasm” shown by the state government had encouraged Football Australia to pick SA for the fixture but declined to comment on whether the Malinauskas government had offered the highest financial bid for the game.

Forward Sam Kerr faced court over an alleged incident involving a UK police officer. Picture: Izhar Khan/AFP

Football Australia CEO James Johnson. Picture: Richard Walker

The premier remained tight-lipped over how much the match was costing South Australian taxpayers, but said the government would release data related to overall economic benefit publicly after the event.

Matildas goalscoring hero and former Adelaide United player Michelle Heyman said her side was “incredibly grateful” for the opportunity to play on South Australian soil – revealing she never believed as a young soccer player that she would have the opportunity to play on such a big stage.

“I think the World Cup being on home soil definitely changed everything for football in Australia,” she said.

“Even walking out there the other night (at Marvel Stadium) with so many fans was mind-blowing … it’s been a very special past week to be able to be part of the Matildas in this new era where we see these opportunities.”

Tickets for the Adelaide Oval match will go on sale through Ticketek to Football Australia Football Account holders at 2pm on Friday March 8, and to the general public at 12pm Tuesday March 12.

Tickets will start at $20 for juniors, $25 concession, $35 for adults and $90 for a family pass.

Kick off will be 7.40pm ACST on Friday May 31.

Originally published as Football Australia CEO claims Sam Kerr did not disclose arrest or criminal charge