Sam Kerr, captain of the Australian women’s national football team and star forward for Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, is currently on trial at Kingston Crown Court in London, facing a charge of racially aggravated harassment, Al Jazeera reports.
The charge stems from an alleged incident in January 2023, involving a dispute with a cab driver and subsequent interaction with a white police officer.
The prosecution alleges that Kerr, 31, made racially abusive remarks towards police officer Stephen Lovell, reportedly telling him, “You guys are f stupid and white.” Kerr, who is of Indian ancestry, acknowledges making the statement but has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Her defense lawyer argues that the comment was a statement about power and privilege, not a racially motivated attack.
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told the jury that Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis, who plays for West Ham United, hailed a taxi in the early hours of January 30, 2023, after a night out. According to the prosecution, the cab journey “did not go well,” leading the driver to contact police to complain about their behavior, alleging that they were attempting to damage the vehicle.
The cab driver reportedly drove the pair to a police station instead of Kerr’s home, after which she allegedly made the comment about Officer Lovell’s ethnicity. The prosecution contends that the central question for the jury is to determine the meaning of Kerr’s words and the impact they had on Officer Lovell.
Kerr’s lawyer, Grace Forbes, argued that while the words were spoken, they do not constitute a criminal act. She highlighted Kerr’s achievements as one of the world’s leading female strikers, noting her impressive record of 199 career goals across various leagues. She is also Australia’s all-time top scorer, with 69 goals in 128 appearances for her country. Kerr has been sidelined since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to her knee in January 2024.
The trial is expected to conclude this week. The outcome will have significant implications for Kerr’s career and reputation, both in Australia and internationally.
