Kerr’s alleged racist slur towards cop revealed in British tabloid

London: Matildas captain Sam Kerr allegedly called a police officer “a stupid white bastard” during a dispute over a taxi fare last year, UK newspaper The Sun has reported.

Kerr, who has pleaded not guilty and is fighting to have a charge of racially harassing the police officer thrown out of court, was reported to have been sick in the cab after a night out and is then alleged to have unleashed the slur when police arrived.

Australian football star Sam Kerr is fighting to have a charge of racially harassing the police officer thrown out of court.Credit: Getty

Her English club Chelsea had not commented on her case for almost two days, but ahead of their League Cup semi-final against Manchester City manager Emma Hayes said Kerr had the club’s backing.

“Sam has our full support, she knows that. It’s a difficult time for her,” Hayes told reporters on Thursday morning, Australian time.

“Of course I can’t comment, you know that. I can say that 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.

“Difficult moments, tough times. That’s what my role is in this football club – to make sure I look after our people.”

With the offence carrying a potential prison term or fine or both, her glittering career and millions of dollars in endorsements are hanging by a thread following the revelation of the alleged incident. The Daily Mail on Wednesday reported a variation of the allegations, citing police sources who claimed she called the officer a “stupid white PC” (police constable).

Her legal team will head back to court on April 26 in a bid to have the charge thrown out or downgraded ahead of a criminal trial scheduled for February next year.

Kerr’s Matildas teammate, veteran goalkeeper Lydia Williams, played a straight bat to questions about the situation on Thursday as she modelled one of the team’s new uniforms for the Paris Olympics, including if she had a personal view on whether she should stay on as captain.

“Sam is a long-time teammate and friend,” Williams said. “We’re offering all the support we can but at the end of the day it’s another legal concern that I won’t be able to comment on further.”

Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams in her Paris Olympics kit in Sydney on Thursday.Credit: Nick Moir

Kerr will not take part at the Olympics due to an ACL injury she suffered two months ago, but has not been officially ruled out by Football Australia or by Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson, who said earlier this week it was still too early to do 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,” said Anna Meares, Australia’s Olympic chef de mission.

“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 that’s in place, we do need to let that run its course. The Matildas, I’m sure, will continue to do an incredible job with the stance they take on representing Australia in the multicultural and diverse nature that we have as a country.”

Credit: Matt Golding

Kerr is accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to an officer in Twickenham, south-west London, on January 30 last year. She was not officially charged until six weeks ago and appeared in court via videolink on Monday to enter a not-guilty plea.

Court documents released on Tuesday showed Kerr’s legal team planned to argue an abuse of process by Crown prosecutors after it took almost 12 months for charges to be laid while they decided whether to charge her.

If Kerr’s bid is unsuccessful, she will appear at a trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, south-west London, on February 3. It is expected to last between four and five days with two police officers to give evidence. Police body camera footage is also likely to be presented to the court.

Judge Judith Elaine Coello told the court on Monday that she understood Kerr’s defence would be that she didn’t intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the officer and that her behaviour did not amount to it, and it was not racially aggravated.

It has emerged that few knew of the incident involving the superstar striker, which followed Chelsea’s fourth-round FA Cup win over Liverpool – a match in which Kerr had scored three goals.

Football Australia, the nation’s body governing the women’s national team, held crisis talks with Kerr’s Australian-based agent Niki White on Wednesday, after chief executive James Johnson and Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said they first learnt about the allegations, which relate to an incident in January 2023.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday he would not comment on legal matters but said Kerr had displayed “exemplary” conduct in his personal interactions with her including her official role in King Charles’ coronation.

“I will say this about my contact with Sam Kerr, who was our flag bearer at the coronation, I think my contact with her was exemplary,” he said.

“She did Australia proud at that time ... My contact with her has been delightful.”

Arguably the world’s most famous female player, the 30-year-old striker is currently sidelined after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the club’s warm-weather training camp in Morocco in January.

She has scored 99 goals in 128 matches since joining Chelsea in 2019, and is Australia’s record goalscorer with 64 goals in 125 games. During her time at Chelsea, Kerr has won four Women’s Super League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and the Community Shield. She has also been nominated for the Ballon d’Or Féminin – the top prize in women’s football – every year since its inception in 2018, placing second last year.

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