Tom Sermanni faces barrage of Sam Kerr questions during Matildas squad announcement

Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni faced the media on Tuesday to announce the latest squad – but instead was faced with a barrage of questions about Sam Kerr.

Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni says the outcome of super striker Sam Kerr’s trial in the UK could determine whether or not the star ever plays for her country again.

Kerr’s trial, set for four-days, started in the UK yesterday. Video shown in the court shows Kerr swearing at a police officer and calling him “stupid and white”.

The incident occurred after Kerr allegedly was sick in the taxi and then smashed a back window.

The court heard Kerr believed she was being abducted after the taxi driver refused to drop her at the requested address – instead taking her to the police station.

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni. Picture: Getty

Kerr, who hasn’t played for club Chelsea or Australia since rupturing her ACL in January 2024, was not named in Sermanni’s 23-woman squad for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup.

Sermanni said that decision had everything to do with Kerr’s fitness and nothing to do with her legal dramas.

But when asked if Kerr would ever play for the Matildas again, Sermanni who gave Kerr her debut as a teen, said the case had the power to have a big impact on the striker’s career.

“It’s difficult for me to answer that to be honest,” Sermanni said.

“Obviously with the court case that’s going on at the moment it would be a bit unwise of me to comment on the outcome or whatever the outcome of that might be.

“I think it is a case of waiting to see what happens and then we move on from there.”

Australian footballer Sam Kerr arrives outside the Crown Court ahead of her trial. Picture: Getty

Sermanni said as a coach he wants the best players in his team and that means Kerr.

“From a football perspective my main aim as a the head coach is to have her fit and healthy as quick as possible,” he said.

“I saw some video of her last week and she’s running pretty strongly, from my perspective I’ll let this process take its course and then we’ll look at what we do after that.”

Following the video shown to the court and details revealed during the trial so far there have been calls for Kerr to be stripped of her captaincy.

Sermanni said that decision wasn’t up to him.

“I hadn’t even thought of that scenario at this stage because my main scenario first and foremost is to look at this squad for this tournament and focus on that,” Sermanni said.

Sam Kerr, currently sidelined with an injury, is one of the biggest stars on the planet. Picture: AFP

“In regards to Sam my main scenario is hopefully that she gets back to good health as quickly and safely as possible.”

Sermanni, who has known Kerr since she was a teenager, wouldn’t share his thoughts on the case or the athlete’s remarks to the police officer.

“It’s something that has to run its course and I think any comments that I might make would be unhelpful to that,” he said.

Sermanni said he had been in contact with Kerr but had not spoken to her about the legal matters. He said in his opinion Kerr wouldn’t be fit to play football until at least March.

The trial is due to continue today.

Originally published as Tom Sermanni faces barrage of Sam Kerr questions during Matildas squad announcement