Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter responds to captain Sam Kerr’s not guilty verdict in a London court

There’s still no clarity on whether Sam Kerr will remain Matildas captain and her deputy has responded to the findings of her high-profile court case.

Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter says being thrust into the spotlight after the mammoth success of the 2023 FIFA World Cup has created “change” in the lives of all players as she threw her support the way of captain Sam Kerr amid a “challenging time”.

Carpenter and a Matildas squad littered with new faces are in the US preparing for a maiden campaign in the four-team SheBelieves Cup tournament, with clashes against the hosts as well as Asian Cup rivals their immediate focus.

But as the fallout continues from Kerr’s not guilty finding in a London court, and the dramatic footage of her behaviour in a police station during the trial after which she was cleared of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer, questions about her captaincy status linger.

Sam Kerr was found not guilty in a London court. Picture: Justin Tallis / AFP

Kerr, who is on the road back to playing after suffering an ACL injury last January, could make her playing return for English club side Chelsea as soon as next month before a possible Matildas return in two matches against Korea in Australia in April.

But Carpenter, asked on Tuesday whether she’d been in contact with Kerr, kept her response brief.

“I obviously hope she’s OK and her wellbeing … it’s obviously been a very challenging time for her,” she said.

“Secondly, we hope her rehab journey with her knee is going well and we all can’t wait to see her back on the pitch.

“That’s such a hard and lengthy journey, I’ve been through it as well, so I really hope that she’s back on the pitch doing what she loves and that’s going to be the best thing.”

Chelsea women’s coach Sonia Bompastor last week said Kerr’s acquittal and apology, made via social media, was enough and put a full stop on the incident from the powerhouse club’s perspective.

Football Australia committed to continuing to support Kerr and to “reflect with Sam on learnings from this matter “ without making any call on her leadership future”.

Kerr celebrates with Ellie Carpenter. Picture: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

Carpenter, who has played 84 times for the Matildas since her debut as a teenager in 2016, and endured the ride to prominence of the team with Kerr, said being put “on the map” by the home World Cup had increased scrutiny of all players, for good and bad.

“Post World Cup the Matildas were put on the map more so than before, that’s a thing with being part of a team that was so successful, and that brings things on and off the pitch,” she said.

“The girls know that and we have experienced over the past couple of years that change in our lives.”

The Matildas will compete at the tournament under the coaching of interim Tom Sermanni, with a full-time replacement for Tony Gustavsson, who quit after the unsuccessful Paris Olympics campaign, yet to be found.

Carpenter said she and the other players were hopeful that FA would “provide us with a coach that is best fit”.

Originally published as Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter responds to captain Sam Kerr’s not guilty verdict in a London court