Star footballer accused of racist jibe at policeman
AUSTRALIA’S superstar women’s football captain is to go on trial for an alleged racist attack on a policeman, the Mail can reveal.
Chelsea striker Samantha Kerr appeared in court yesterday accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive language towards an officer in Twickenham, south-west London, on January 30 last year.
Kerr, 30, wore a white t-shirt under a black suit jacket as she appeared at Kingston Crown Court via videolink, speaking only to confirm her identity and plead not guilty to harassment.
A judge ordered her to attend a four-day trial in February next year, during which two officers are expected to give evidence. Kerr was granted unconditional bail.
The star player’s lawyers argue that she did not mean to upset the policeman and that her behaviour was not racially aggravated.
Kerr has scored 99 goals in 128 matches for Chelsea since signing in 2019.
She is the only female player to have won the Golden Boot in three different leagues and on three continents. Born in Fremantle, Western Australia, Kerr has won four Women’s Super League titles with the Blues, as well as three FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups and the Women’s Community Shield in 2020.
Known as ‘Millionaire Mathilda’ due to her vast earnings, she was selected to carry her nation’s flag at King Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey last May. Kerr has been sidelined since picking up a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury during a training camp in Morocco in January. She is engaged to Kristie Mewis, 33, who plays for West Ham and the US.