Football: Aussie women's team captain Sam Kerr to stand trial over alleged racial harassment of police officer

Australia captain Sam Kerr will face trial in the UK accused of the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer in London over a year ago.

Chelsea forward Kerr, one of the world's most recognisable women footballers and a sporting idol in her home nation, was charged on Jan. 21, almost a year after the incident was alleged to have occurred.

«The charge relates to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a complaint involving a taxi fare on 30 January 2023 in Twickenham,» the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Kerr, who on the day before the incident scored a hat-trick against Liverpool in the FA Cup at Kingsmeadow, Chelsea women's home ground, is due to appear in court in February next year.

The 30-year-old pleaded not guilty via video link at Kingston Crown Court on Monday, British media reported.

Kerr's agent declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Chelsea did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

Football Australia had been unaware of Kerr's legal trouble, the governing body's CEO James Johnson confirmed on Tuesday.

«We woke up to this this morning,» Johnson told reporters in Adelaide.

«Of course, it’s a very serious allegation. It regards racism and there’s no place for racism in our sport.

»At the same time Sam has rights, natural justice rights, procedural rights that she's got to work her way through and we're respectful of that."

The news overshadowed FA's announcement of the national women's team's farewell matches against China in Adelaide on May 31 and in Sydney on June 3 before their campaign to win a first Olympic medal at the Paris Games.

Johnson said FA were seeking more information about the incident.

«I haven't spoken to Sam other than a text