Chelsea star Kerr denies abusing Pc

Leading women’s footballer enters not guilty plea over accusation of racially aggravated harassment

CHELSEA women’s football team star Sam Kerr will stand trial next year after appearing in court via videolink charged with the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.

The Australia captain denies using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress during an incident in Twickenham, south-west London, on Jan 30. The 30-year-old appeared at Kingston Crown Court via the link, speaking only to confirm her identity and enter a not guilty plea to the charge.

According to the Daily Mail, she was wearing a white T-shirt under a black suit jacket as she was ordered to attend a four-day trial, scheduled for February, during which two police officers are expected to give evidence.

“I understand that the defence is that she didn’t intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the officer, [her behaviour] did not amount to it, and it was not racially aggravated?” the judge asked Grace Forbes, Ms Kerr’s barrister.

The alleged offence occurred three weeks after Ms Kerr suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury during Chelsea’s warm weather training camp in Monaco in January.

Ms Kerr is widely regarded as one of the best players in women’s football and has been shortlisted for the Ballon d’or Féminin every year since its inception six years ago.

She has scored 99 goals in 128 matches since signing for Chelsea in 2019 and has won four Women’s Super League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and the Community Shield.

She is the only female player to have won the Golden Boot in three different leagues and on three different continents and is Australia’s all-time top goalscorer.

Such is her standing, she was even chosen to carry her nation’s flag at the King’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey last May, fronting an Australian contingent which included Anthony Albanese, the prime minister.

“Obviously, it’s an amazing honour,” Ms Kerr told Chelsea’s official website at the time.

“I found out I’d been offered the role from a phone call, but I wasn’t sure if I could do it because we have a game on Sunday. Emma [Hayes, the Chelsea manager] has been kind enough to let me miss a practice for it, which is very nice of her.”

Ms Kerr and fellow footballer Kristie Mewis confirmed in November that they were engaged to be married.

United States midfielder Ms Mewis, who joined West Ham United the following month, told People magazine that, along with her parents and sister, Ms Kerr had “just been everything” to her. “My biggest supporter, always listening to me nag and complain all, all of my crazy antics,” she said.

The pair were previously in a long-distance relationship of which Ms Kerr had said: “We both just want each other to do so well in our careers. I don’t think you could be in a long-distance relationship with someone who didn’t get the sport. She fully gets it and I get it. So we just support each other.”

The pair have also spoken about the importance of sharing their relationship on social media to normalise “being two girls in love”.