Footballer Sam Kerr charged with racially aggravated harassment of London police officer | UK news

Sam Kerr, the Chelsea and Australia footballer, is to face trial in the UK accused of the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.

The 30-year-old appeared in court on Monday accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to an officer who was responding to a complaint over a taxi fare in Twickenham, south-west London, on 30 January 2023.

Kerr, who appeared at Kingston crown court via video link, spoke only to confirm her name and to enter a not guilty plea to the charge, the Daily Mail reported.

In a statement, the Metropolitan police said: “Samantha Kerr, 30 (10.09.93) of Richmond was charged via postal charge requisition on 21 January with a racially aggravated offence under Section 4A Public Order Act 1986.

“The charge relates to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare on 30 January 2023 in Twickenham.”

Kerr is expected to go to trial in February next year with two police officers scheduled to give evidence. The trial is due to last four days.

A statement from Football Australia said it was “aware of the legal proceedings involving Sam Kerr in the United Kingdom.

“As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time,” it added. “Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate.”

As Australia’s captain, the striker is one of the country’s most recognisable sportspeople after the Matildas’ run to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last year.

In May, the footballer carried her country’s flag at the coronation of King Charles in Westminster Abbey.

Last month, Kerr agreed a contract extension with the current Women’s Super League champions, Chelsea. The forward will miss the remainder of the current season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament on a mid-season training camp in Morocco.

Kerr joined Chelsea midway through the 2019-20 season and has scored 99 goals in 128 games for the team.

She has also won the Golden Boot twice, was runner-up to Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí at the Ballon d’Or awards last year, and finished second on the Guardian’s list of the top 100 female footballers in 2023 after being third in 2021 and 2022.