Matildas captain Sam Kerr hid that she was set to face trial accused of harassing a police officer

Further details have emerged from the night that Matildas captain Sam Kerr allegedly racially harassed a police officer - for which she will face court next year.

Chelsea and Australian women's football star Sam Kerr. Picture: IZHAR KHAN / AFP

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.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson was kept in the dark about Kerr’s charges. Picture: Kelly Barnes

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 text 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.’’

Sam Kerr is one of the biggest names in Australian sport. Picture: AFP

Kerr was charged with racially abusing a police officer following a dispute over a taxi fare just hours after she celebrated one of her greatest performances for English club Chelsea.

A UK Metropolitan Police Service spokesman said the incident occurred in the early hours of January 30, 2023 in Twickenham.

The spokesperson 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”.

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

Kerr had earlier scored a heroic hat-trick as Chelsea beat fierce rivals Liverpool 3-2 at Kingsmeadow to move into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

It was Kerr’s 16th goal for the season and a major highlight of her dominant year for the team.

“I wish I could do this every week, but that’s a striker’s life, right — sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t,” Kerr said after the game.

Sam Kerr will face criminal trial next year. Picture: Getty Images

“But, when my teammates are putting in balls like they did today, it’s pretty easy for me to score.”

The officer was allegedly abused after responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare “in the early hours on January 30”.

The Australian football star entered a not guilty plea at Kingston Crown Court via video link and was informed she would be obliged to attend a four-day trial next February, during which two police officers are scheduled to give evidence.

Football Australia said in a statement it was aware of the matter but would not comment further.

“Football Australia is aware of the legal proceedings involving Sam Kerr in the United Kingdom,” the statement read.

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

Kerr had earlier scored a hat-trick for Chelsea against Liverpool. Picture: Getty Images

Judge Judith Elaine Coelle reportedly said Kerr’s defence would be that she did not intend to upset the police officer.

“I understand that the defence is that she didn’t intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the officer, [her behaviour] did not amount to it and it was not racially aggravated,” the paper quoted the judge saying to Kerr’s barrister, Grace Forbes.

Kerr is currently recovering from ACL surgery completed in January and is racing the clock to be fit for the Matildas’ Olympic campaign in Paris in late July.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson is due to speak to media on Tuesday to promote an upcoming friendly against China at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

Originally published as Matildas captain Sam Kerr hid that she was set to face trial accused of harassing a police officer