Sam Kerr racist slur allegations: Matildas star Lydia Williams, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes addresses controversy

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has made the club’s stance on Sam Kerr clear - as one of the star’s Matildas teammate also spoke out to support the under-fire striker.

Lydia Williams and Sam Kerr. Picture: AAP

Matildas veteran Lydia Williams says she has offered support to embattled skipper Sam Kerr but refused to comment on whether she should remain captain of Australia’s women’s football team.

Williams was talking at the launch of the Australian Olympic team uniform in Sydney, but the biggest story remains around the future of Kerr who has pleaded not guilty to racial abuse of a police officer charges in the UK.

“Sam is a long time teammate and a friend, we are offering all the support we can,” Williams said.

“But at the end of the day it’s a legal concern I won’t be able to comment on.

“I mean it’s a legal proceeding which is being done in a different country so unfortunately I won’t be able to comment on it any further on that matter.”

Asked specifically if Kerr had support to remain as captain of the Matildas, Williams referred to the same standard response to almost every other question on their leader and her legal troubles.

“Again it’s a legal proceeding which I won’t be able to comment any further on Sam,” she said.

Lydia Williams and Sam Kerr sing the national anthem as Australian teammates. Picture: AAP

Australian Olympic team chef de mission Anna Meares said the Kerr news was “quite a shock” but until the Matildas nominated their team to the AOC for the Paris Games it was not an issue for the governing body to consider.

Kerr is highly unlikely to be selected by the Matildas for the Paris Olympics, but that is unrelated to her criminal charge and entirely linked to the fact it would only be five months after she ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee.

The AOC has precedent in removing athletes from an Olympic team who are facing serious criminal charges, such as swimmer Nick D’Arcy who was booted off the 2008 Olympic team following an assault charge.

“At the moment the Matildas have qualified, we saw that, I was there at their competition in Melbourne against Uzbekistan so whilst the Matildas have qualified the athletes have not yet been selected or nominated to fill the positions to create the Matildas team at the Paris Olympic Games,” Meares said.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares. Picture: Michael Klein

“Like everyone else we woke up to quite a shock in the news with Sam Kerr and with all respect to Sam Kerr and the process in place we do need to let that run its course and the Matildas I am sure will continue to do an incredible job with the stars that they take on and representing Australia and the multicultural diverse nature we have as a country.

“In terms of the athletes being selected for the Matildas team, that is up to Football Australia. They will put forward their nominations and selections to us at the Australian Olympic Committee and from those nominations we will consider the selections to be formalised.”

KERR’S CHELSEA BOSS SPEAKS OUT OVER MATILDAS STAR’S ALLEGATIONS

- AFP

Chelsea women’s boss Emma Hayes says the club have given their “full support” to Sam Kerr after the Australia striker pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.

Kerr was charged with causing a police officer harassment, alarm or distress during an incident in south-west London on January 30 last year, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Kerr denied the charge at a plea and trial preparation hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court on Monday.

“Sam has our full support. She knows that. It’s a difficult time for her,” Hayes said on Wednesday.

“Of course I can’t comment, you know that. I can say I know she’s pleaded not guilty and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardise anything for Sam by speaking about it.

“For that reason, I’m sure you can appreciate that’s all I’m going to say on the matter, but she has our full support, she knows that, it’s really important I get that across. It’s something I really value.”

Sam Kerr has manager Emma Hayes’ full backing.

The alleged incident occurred before last year’s World Cup, which was held in Australia and New Zealand, but was not publicly disclosed until now.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the incident involved an officer who was responding to a complaint about a taxi fare.

Kerr is expected to face trial in February 2025.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson called the allegation “unsettling” and “very serious”.

“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,” Hayes said.

Kerr is currently recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in January during Chelsea’s training camp in Morocco.

The 30-year-old, born to an Anglo-Indian father and Australian mother, is a popular figure in Australia and one of the most famous players in women’s football.

Originally published as Sam Kerr racist slur allegations: Matildas star Lydia Williams, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes addresses controversy