Emma Hayes has revealed that Chelsea are fully standing behind Sam Kerr after it was revealed the striker had pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated harassment of a police officer. The Australia captain was charged with causing a police officer harassment, alarm or distress during an incident in Twickenham, south-west London, on January 30 last year, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Kerrdenied the charge at a plea and trial preparation hearing at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court on Monday. Asked about the incident, Hayes said: «Sam has our full support. She knows that. It's a difficult time for her.»
«Of course I can't comment, you know that. I can say I know she's pleaded not guilty and I don't want to do anything to jeopardise anything for Sam by speaking about it.
»For that reason, I'm sure you can appreciate that's all I'm going to say on the matter, but she has our full support, she knows that, it's really important I get that across. It's something I really, really, value.
«There's difficult moments, tough times, and that's what my role is at this football club, to make sure I look after our people, and I want to make it clear that Sam will be supported by me and everybody else.»
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the incident involved an officer who was responding to a complaint about a taxi fare. Kerr is due to face trial next February, according to reports.
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