Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr will appear in court next year over alleged racist harassment of a police officer.
The 30-year-old was charged with the offense under Section 4A of the Public Order Act on January 21.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the charges “related to an incident involving a police officer responding to a complaint about a taxi ride in Twickenham on January 30, 2023.”
She pleaded not guilty at a hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court on Monday.
Kerr is due to appear in court at Wimbledon Magistrates Court in southwest London on February 1, 2025.
Kerr is out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a warm-weather training camp in Morocco in January. The Australian captain underwent successful surgery shortly after his injury.
The Athletic reported in January that Kerr had agreed in principle to a contract extension at Chelsea. Your existing contract expires in the summer.
Kerr joined Chelsea in 2019 after leaving the Chicago Red Stars and extended her contract in November 2021. During her time with the Women's Super League side, she scored 99 goals in 128 games, helping them to four WSL titles, three FA Cups and more with two League Cups.
Kerr missed much of the World Cup but scored in the semi-final (Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
She represented Australia at the Women's World Cup last summer after being sidelined in the group stage with a calf injury. However, she celebrated a comeback in the knockout round and helped the joint hosts reach the semi-finals, where she had to admit defeat to eventual runners-up England.
“We woke up to this this morning,” Football Australia CEO James Johnson said on Tuesday when asked if Kerr had informed them of the charge.
“Of course this is a very serious accusation. This is about 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 through and we respect that.”
National coach Tony Gustavsson said he had not yet spoken to Kerr and declined to comment on her position as team captain.
“The only thing I can comment on is my experience and interaction with Sam as a person, as a footballer, and I have only had positive experiences,” he said.
The Athletic has contacted Chelsea for comment.
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(Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)