The UK Metropolitan Police have charged Australian women’s football superstar Sam Kerr over alleged racially aggravated harassment of a police officer last year in West London.
In a statement, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said Ms. Kerr was charged “with a racially aggravated offence under Section 4A [of the] Public Order Act 1986,” and added that the charge “relates to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare on January 30, 2023, in Twickenham.”
Ms. Kerr appeared at a trial preparation hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court on Monday morning after receiving a summons on Jan. 21 this year.
According to a spokesperson from the Crown Prosecution Service, the Matilda’s captain pleaded not guilty with a trial date set for Feb. 1, 2025, at the Wimbledon Magistrates Court.In a statement, Football Australia said it was aware of the legal proceedings, but as an ongoing legal matter, it could not comment further, only saying, “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.”
Ms. Kerr’s Australian-based manager, PR expert Niki White, declined to comment when approached about the charge and subsequent not-guilty plea.
