Matildaโs star player and current Chelsea FC striker, Sam Kerr, has appeared at a pre-trial hearing to determine the next stage of her upcoming court case.
The Australian power player fronted Kingston Crown Court on January 15 where a trial date was set.
Kerr is facing charges relating to an alleged incident that occurred on January 20, 2023, involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint about a taxi fare.
She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A previously released statement from Football Australia noted that Kerr would receive support from the sportโs governing body as the case progressed, saying:
โAs this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. 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.โ
Similarly, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson announced, he too, would continue to back his star player.
โI think FA was very clear on that as well, in terms of supporting our players on and off the fieldโฆ and I understand why thereโs a lot of questions about it, but of course as a human being I will always support.โ
Below, everything you need to know about the upcoming case ahead of the scheduled trial.
What Is Sam Kerr Charged With?

Kerr is charged with causing a police officer โracially aggravated harassment, alarm, or distressโ under section 4A of the Public Order Act in response to an alleged incident in Twickenham, south-west London, on 30 January 2023.
The incident in question occurred after a London policeman was called to a disagreement over a taxi fare, where Kerr is alleged to have used the phrase โstupid white bastardโ against the officer.
She has denied all allegations and will uphold her previous โnot guiltyโ plea in the upcoming trial.
When Will The Court Case Begin?
The court case has been set for February 3 and will take place at Kingston Crown Court in London.
As it stands, the trial will take place over four days where the court will determine what lies ahead for the football star.
How Have Fans Reacted?

Claims that Kerr allegedly used a โracial slurโ against the officer sent the internet into a spin at the time, but as further details emerged, the collective outrage was quickly silenced.
The premier of Kerrโs home state of Western Australia, Roger Cook, openly threw his support behind the beloved sports star, rejecting any notions of racist intent. And the same view was also shared by NSW premier, Chris Minns, who agreed that Kerrโs alleged comments werenโt racist.
In an interview with The Guardian, Professor Fethi Mansouri โ an expert in intercultural communication at Deakin University โ said โitโs very difficult to see how this can amount to being a serious racist incident.โ
Noting that any likening of the sort could trivialise and oversimplify the systemic impact of racism being experienced by oppressed people on a daily basis.
โRacism, in many ways, reflects the notion that one group is categorised on a hierarchy as being better than the other groupโฆ You are basically pejoratively putting someone down in a way that relates to your own position within society.โ
The incident also took place amid a swell of reverse-racism claims, which Mansouri said is when โpeople who are members of the majority groups โฆ go on the offensive, saying: โWell, Iโm also being subjected to racismโ.โ A dangerous rhetoric which, warned Mansouri, proved a โlack of understanding of the history of racism, of its complex manifestations.โ
Whatโs Next For Sam Kerr?

After 12-months on the sideline of her beloved club Chelsea due to injury, Kerr is finally taking steps towards re-entering the squad.
Sheโs set to return to the pitch in either February or March, according to head coach Sonia Bompastor, and has most recently taken part in the teamโs mid-season training camp in Portugal.
Off the field, Kerr and her soon-to-be wife, Kristie Mewis are about to welcome the birth of their first child together, after sharing their pregnancy news in November of last year.
This article will be updated as the trial progresses.
Related articles:
- Sam Kerr & Kristie Mewis Are Expecting Their First Child
- Samantha Kerr Felt She Had To Keep Her Gender Secret As A Young Player
- Inside Sam Kerrโs Romance With US Football Star Kristie Mewis