New stick for Sam Kerr: he will stand trial for racist insults at a police officer

The Australian international Sam Kerr, a women’s soccer star, will stand trial in the United Kingdom for racist insults to a police officer, a charge to which she has pleaded not guilty, according to a judicial source. The incident began on January 30 last year in Twickenham, in London’s south-west suburbs, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said, and occurred while a police officer was dealing with a dispute over the fare of a taxi ride, he continued . .

Sam Kerr, 30, who plays for Chelsea FC, is expected to go on trial in February 2025. He is being prosecuted for “threatening, offensive and insulting” behaviour, a charge punishable by a fine or prison sentence.

Football Federation Australia chief executive James Johnson said the allegations were “outrageous” and “very serious”. “This is about racism and there is no place for racism in our sport,” he said, also emphasizing that Sam Kerr “has rights (…) procedural rights.” Australian women’s national team coach Tony Gustavsson said on Tuesday he was “surprised” and could not “comment on the offense as it is a legal matter at this time.”

“The only thing I can comment on is my experience and my relationship with Sam as a person and as a footballer. And I only have positive experiences,” he said. Having undergone surgery for severe anterior cruciate ligament damage in his knee at the beginning of January, contracted during the winter training camp in Morocco, the attacker is recovering from the surgery, but the rest of his season, particularly the Olympic Games this summer. in Paris is highly committed.

“I think it’s too early to consider selection at the moment and, as we all know, with Sam’s serious injury in January, there is obviously a big question mark as to whether he will be selected,” said Tony Gustavsson.