Football Australia silent on whether Matildas star Sam Kerr has breached the sport’s national code of conduct
As questions are asked why Sam Kerr didn’t tell anyone about police charges in the UK it’s emerged the Matildas captain may already be in breach of Football Australia’s national code of conduct.
Football Australia has refused to confirm whether Sam Kerr has breached the sport’s national code of conduct and what penalties she could face after being charged with a criminal offence which constitutes “misconduct” under the governing body’s rules.
FA offered no comment to several questions asking whether the Matildas captain was also in breach for failing to inform the governing body of the charges and her court appearance amid questions over her ongoing standing as captain.
Revelations she had been charged with aggravated racial harassment of a police officer in an alleged incident that occurred on January 30 last year in London were met with shock from FA and Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson
Kerr, who is injured and not playing at the moment, was charged on January 21 this year and on Monday pleaded not guilty to the charge when appearing at Kingston Crown Court via a video link.
But she, and her management, failed to inform FA chief executive officer James Johnson or Gustavsson of the charges and her court resultant could appearance, leaving them both blindsided on Tuesday.
That has increased pressure on Kerr’s position as captain, beyond the incident itself and FA’s code allows them to suspend any player for an indefinite period “without any finding of fault pending investigation or determination of a matter”.
It’s been alleged Kerr used “insulting, threatening or abusive words” that caused “alarm or distress” to a police officer and she’s set to face trial in February next year.
But according to court documents, her lawyers will attempt to have the charge downgraded or dropped at a pre-trial hearing on April 26.
Under the sport’s national code of conduct and ethics, the mere fact Kerr has been charged could be enough for her to be in breach and face penalty.
But FA can also “stay its investigation and/or disciplinary proceedings pending the outcome of the investigations or proceedings being conducted by the other relevant authorities”.
However, unless Kerr’s charge is dropped, she has already clause 2.14 for a constituent having “engaged in misconduct … if they commit, or are charged with, a criminal offence”.
An FA spokesman refused to confirm this when contacted by News Corp Australia on Wednesday, saying FA had no further comment on the Kerr matter, including if the 30-year-old forward was going to be stripped of the Matildas captaincy for not disclosing the matter to the sport’s, national governing body.
If found guilty of the charge, Kerr will also have breached code clauses covering discrimination and general behaviour.
Penalties could range from a fine to a suspension, but FA would also have the discretion to stand her down as captain.
Under the code, however, only people who have been found to have been in breach three times can have their contracts terminated.
Johnson was adamant that Kerr “had rights” and it wouldn’t be until FA had established “the facts” that a next move could be made.
“We have to get some answers before we have a view on what should be done as a next step,” he said.
Kerr’s English club Chelsea have also yet to make a statement in relation to her court appearance.
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