What’s next for Matilda’s star Sam Kerr after racism charge
It’s been a week that has stunned millions of fans worldwide and threatened to cost Sam Kerr more than a game — but there are two sides to every story.
National
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When star striker Sam Kerr netted a hat trick to see her club side Chelsea through to the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2023, commentators enthused she would long remember the day.
But it would be another run of play well after the January 29 game that she will now be forced to recall instead – before a court, under a threat of conviction for an alleged crime that has stunned millions of her fans worldwide.
And while she may struggle to recollect all the detail of that night and early next morning from the haze of celebration, police body cam footage will be available to assist.
Samantha May Kerr, captain of the Matildas, toast of Chelsea and hailed as one of the greatest players of her generation stumbled post the match in a play that now threatens to cost her more than a game but a hard-earned reputation.
Just what happened after the match allegedly involved celebration with teammates, alcohol, abusive words and an embarrassing taxi ride that required police attendance that now sees the 30-year-old facing a charge of racial aggravated harassment.
But there are two sides to every story and knowing her tenacity and reputation as a dogged campaigner, fans are confident their champion with a stellar international career that started at age 15 and has been peppered with so many challenges will overcome this latest test.
“It’s a difficult time for her,” Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes said of her charge, adding repeatedly though she had her full support and that of her team and club.
“There’s difficult moments, tough times, and that’s what my role is at this football club, to make sure I look after our people, and I want to make it clear that Sam will be supported by me and everybody else.”
Chelsea were the defending FA Cup women’s champion when they took on the tough Liverpool in the fourth round in 2023.
Kerr found the opener just after the half-hour mark, getting on the end of a cross with a volley to finish into the back of the net to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead going into the break. After the interval Kerr scored again and despite Liverpool potting two quick goals Kerr finished the game bagging a hat trick, whistle blowing 3-2.
Chelsea would go on to win the FA Cup that year, Kerr would go on to captain national squad Matildas in the World Cup later that year, and gain an even bigger legion of fans.
This year she become the all-time leading Australian international scorer.
For her club Kerr has scored 99 goals in 128 matches since her 2019 signing and became the only female player to have won the golden boot award in three different leagues in three different continents.
She was even given the national honour of carrying the Australian flag at King Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey last May.
But all the while she harboured a secret, post that January FA Cup round four home game, that her Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson, Football Australia boss James Johnson and the public did not know until this week. Both Gustavsson and Johnson were blindsided, only hearing the news in the media, after Kerr appeared via videolink in the British court to formally plead. Both men have since spoken to Kerr.
Some of her teammates knew of the incident as no doubt did her partner, US pro footballer and West Ham United club midfielder Kristie Mewis.
The detail from that night and following early morning is not known although British tabloid The Sun has revealed after a dispute over a taxi fare, police were called and during an exchange with one officer she allegedly called him “a stupid white bastard” (Kerr is of Indian-descent). Her lawyers have reportedly said they will instead argue the phrase was “stupid white cop”.
After 4.30pm, when Kerr had showered, changed, and fronted the press after the game, she was spotted in the Kingsmeadow stadium’s blue-painted bar toasting pints with her jubilant teammates.
“She was Sam, she was with the girls celebrating, she was happy, they often come for drinks in here after a game, I only saw her for a bit, it was a good day for Chelsea,” said a manager at the stadium.
“I don’t know where they went on after, there were kisses and hugs, they were in high spirits, their hard work had paid off”.
It is not known exactly where the Matildas captain, the first Australian footballer to score a hat-trick at a World Cup tournament and the 10th footballer to score four goals, went on from there.
But several hours had passed before she was heading home in a taxi to her luxury one bedroom apartment in leafy Richmond Hill.
According to the Sun, the allegations include that Kerr had been sick in the cab after the night out and was in Twickenham in south west London, a short distance from her then home, when she reportedly unleashed a racist statement.
Kerr has formally pleaded not guilty and the Kingston Crown Court heard she denied her actions intended to cause “alarm, harassment or distress to the officer” nor that her behaviour was racially aggravated.
Her lawyers are seeking to have the case dismissed ahead of an expected four-day trial in February 2025 with a hearing to be held this April.
It is not clear why police only formally charged Kerr six weeks ago under the Crime and Disorder Act, a year after the incident. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.
A court has heard the issue sprang from a “fare dispute” with the cab driver.
Kerr is reportedly the highest-paid player in women’s football, earning $800,000 a year and in 2022 alone, according to the British press, pocketed $5 million in earnings and endorsements.
On Instagram she boasts more than 1.8 million followers.
The East Fremantle born Kerr hated soccer as a child and played AFL like her Calcutta-born father Roger Kerr who played for Perth in the WAFL and later for Port Adelaide. Kerr’s brother Daniel Kerr was also a professional footballer.
But realising the game’s then limited options for females at age 13 moved to soccer and was spotted by Perth Glory which branded her athleticism as “exceptional”.
By 15 years in 2009, she made her debut in both the W League then internationally in a friendly between the Matildas and Italy.
Kerr’s career was initially in the shadow of her brother who was a top AFL mid fielder from his first draft pick in 2000, going on to play for West Coast, helping secure the team’s back-to-back grand finals and a runner up Brownlow medallist.
But his career was peppered with off field controversies including assaults, arson charges, prison sentences and domestic violence.
In 2007 he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after a dispute with a taxi driver which ended in an assault. He was jailed again in 2023 for arson. His fall was felt by the Kerr family.
Die hard Chelsea fan Basil was at the stadium this week and devastated to learn of the striker’s alleged incident with the police officer and cab driver.
“I had not heard about it, I have an open mind to it but we need to wait for the facts to come out, there are always two sides to a story,” he said before heading off to watch the Blues play Manchester on Thursday night.
“Our girls are good girls, they train hard and always put a good shift in, I’m in the girls’ corner all the way,” he said.
“Sam, stay strong,” he proffered.
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