Racism charge could ruin Sam Kerr’s multimillion-dollar brand

Sam Kerr has become the face of women’s football the world over, but the charges levelled against her could cause irreparable damage.

Sam Kerr could be facing financial pain following the news which came to light on Tuesday.

The Matildas superstar will face trial in London after being charged with a “racially aggravated offence” during an alleged incident in Twickenham in January, 2023.

Things came crashing down quickly for the 30-year-old striker with the Australian captain accused of a “cover up” after Football Australia revealed they heard the news at the same time as everyone else.

By not informing the governing body of the charge, calls have been levelled for Kerr to be stripped of the captaincy badge. But it’s off the field where Kerr’s pocket could be in for a world of hurt.

Kerr is the face of women’s football the world over. A superstar player with even bigger marketability.

While much remains unknown about the charge levelled against her, the damage may already have the writing on the wall with sponsors potentially distancing themselves from the star.

Kerr has a $1.5 million contract with Chelsea, a $1 million endorsement deal with Nike and a deal with MasterCard worth a reported $600,000 per season.

Her booming profile saw her land the exclusive cover of FIFA23 alongside French superstar Kylian Mbappe.

The Aussie star raked in $3.34m, according to AFR, throughout the 2022 calendar year.

Things could get ugly for the striker. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Kerr appeared at Kingston Crown Court via videolink after she was accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to a police officer during an alleged incident in Twickenham on January 30, 2023.

The star striker only spoke to confirm her identity and to enter a not guilty plea to the charge which was later confirmed by the Metropolitan Police.

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”.

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

Speaking at a press conference in Adelaide on Tuesday, Football Australia boss James Johnson said: “I woke up this morning like everyone else did to the news and that’s when Football Australia found out about this unsettling event.

“We need to establish our own facts. This is news to us.

“And it’s concerning because of the subject and we need to get our heads around what’s actually happened.’’

Kerr has been accused of keeping the charge from Football Australia. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Johnson was careful not to make any assumptions given they were “serious allegations”.

“We’re trying to get to the bottom of it at the moment. We have our own questions we would like to know. We have got to find out what actually happened,” Johnson said.

“There is a process that is underway … and that process needs to run its course.

“I don’t want to get into any allegations. We have to understand what happened. They are serious allegations. It regards racism and there is no place for racism in our sport. At the same time Sam has rights, natural justice rights, procedural rights that she has to work her way through and we respect that.”

Kerr is set to face a four-day trial in England in February next year where two police officers are scheduled to give evidence.

Harassment convictions in the UK can lead to a sentence of up to two years when the offence is racially or religiously aggravated.