International ladies’s soccer star Sam Kerr is dealing with trial in England after pleading not responsible to a racially aggravated offence in opposition to a London police officer, prosecutors mentioned.
The Chelsea striker and Australia captain was charged following an incident in January final yr when the Metropolitan Police mentioned they had been referred to as to a dispute over a taxi fare.
The 30-year-old Kerr, born to an Anglo-Indian father and Australian mom, is a treasured sporting determine in Australia and one of the vital well-known gamers in ladies’s soccer.
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Australia’s all-time main scorer final yr graced the duvet of the FIFA online game alongside Kylian Mbappe.
She is anticipated to face trial in February 2025. The cost, regarding “threatening, abusive or insulting” behaviour, can carry a superb or custodial sentence if confirmed.
The alleged incident occurred earlier than final yr’s World Cup, which was held in Australia and New Zealand, however was not publicly disclosed till now and appeared to take Australian soccer bosses without warning.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson mentioned he had solely came upon in regards to the allegation on Tuesday and was but to talk to his skipper.
“I was informed this morning and obviously I was surprised,” he mentioned.
“I can’t comment on the offence because it’s a legal matter at this point. The only thing I can comment on is my experience and interaction with Sam as a person, and as a footballer.
“And I have only had positive experiences,” he mentioned.
Gustavsson mentioned it was too early to say whether or not the allegation would rule Kerr out of choice for this summer time’s Paris Olympics.
Kerr has been sidelined since January with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
“I think it’s a bit too early to look at selection at this time and as we all know with Sam’s serious injury in January, there’s obviously a very big question mark whether she will even be up for selection,” mentioned Gustavsson.
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Football Australia CEO James Johnson referred to as the allegation “unsettling” and “very serious”.
“We’ve got our own questions that we’d like to know. We’ve got to find out what actually happened,” he mentioned.
“It’s regarding racism, and there’s no place for racism in our sport. At the same time. Sam has rights, natural justice rights, procedural rights, that she’s going to work her way through and we’re respectful of that.”
Former Australia males’s group captain Craig Foster mentioned the news was sudden and distressing.
“Racism is a very serious issue (not only) in sport. Let’s acknowledge the rights of the other person involved and hope that February absolves Sam,” he posted on X, previously Twitter.
Kerr has been credited with serving to drive the booming reputation of the ladies’s recreation each in Australia and globally.
She performed Australian Rules soccer as a teenager and was satisfied she would sooner or later symbolize her beloved West Coast Eagles, like her elder brother.
She switched to soccer aged 12 and made her full worldwide debut in opposition to Italy in 2009, a precocious expertise aged simply 15 on the time.
Known for her tempo, agility and heading skill — in addition to her trademark backflip purpose celebrations — Kerr left for the United States in 2013.
She went first to Western New York Flash, then Sky Blue FC in New Jersey and eventually Chicago Red Stars.
After shifting to Chelsea in 2020, Kerr rose to a brand new degree.
The 2023 Ballon d’Or runner-up scored the one purpose in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in final season’s FA Cup ultimate.
As her star has continued to rise over time, Kerr has signed profitable endorsement offers with the likes of Nike and Mastercard.
She has scored 99 targets in 128 video games in all competitions for Chelsea.
In 2019, Kerr turned the primary Australian, man or girl, to attain a hat-trick at a World Cup.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated news company feed – AFP)
Source: www.news18.com
