Draft:Sam Kerr racism controversy

On 21 January 2024, Australian soccer player Sam Kerr, the captain of Chelsea F.C. Women and the Australia women's national soccer team (nicknamed the "Matildas"), was charged with "racially aggravated harassment" of a police officer. The incident allegedly took place in Twickenham, London on 30 January 2023, while Kerr was settling a complaint regarding a taxi fare. Kerr appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The media did not become aware of the charge until March 2024. The case is due for trial in February 2025. Her lawyers are asking for the charge to be withdrawn, claiming abuse of process in view of the exceptional delay, of almost a year, in bringing it. According to news reports, Kerr is alleged to have called the police officer a "stupid white bastard".

Background
On 30 January 2023, before the FIFA Women's World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand, Kerr allegedly used a racist language towards a white male police constable in Twickenham. She was charged with "intentionally causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress" under Section 31(1)(b) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. She pleaded not guilty. If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment.

In soccer
Football Australia, the governing body for soccer in Australia, issued a statement stating that the organisation was "aware of the legal proceedings against Kerr in the United Kingdom", but refused to comment further as the legal matter was still ongoing.

Football Australia boss James Johnson and Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson both admitted that the allegations had blindsided them. Johnson called the allegation "unsettling" and "very serious".

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes confirmed that Kerr has the "full support" of her and the club, and acknowledged that it was a difficult time for her.

After initially recommending that Kerr be stripped of the captaincy, former Socceroo Craig Foster later backflipped and said it was important for children to learn that their role models make mistakes.

In other sports
Georgie Parker, an Australian rules footballer and former field hockey player, spoke strongly in support for Kerr.

On social media
Social media users were divided on the issue, though most spoke in support of Kerr, with many claiming that a police officer should not have been so offended by such a comment, while others ridiculed the possibility that Kerr could face prison for the remark she allegedly used. However, others were critical of Kerr, referring to her as a racist.

From government officials
Among ministers in the incumbent centre-left Labor state government, Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park both stated that they did not consider the comment racist, with Park stating that he had been called worse names.

From other politicians and political activists
David Limbrick, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from the right-wing Libertarian Party spoke in support of Kerr on X (formerly known as Twitter), tweeting "Oh dear me… what a pathetic weak cop to get upset about this". Limbrick later suggested, in Parliament, that while the alleged comment did meet the dictionary definition of racism, that "on a scale of one to 10, where 10 is ethnic cleansing, this would be a 0.1" and referred to the police officer as a "sook". Limbrick also criticised the reaction to the allegedly racist incident involving rugby league player Spencer Leniu.

Australian far-right social media activist Kobie Thatcher, a self-proclaimed Trumpist who frequently spreads COVID-19 misinformation (especially in regards to COVID-19 vaccinations), posted a poll on her X account, asking "If Sam Kerr is found guilty of calling a police officer a "stupid white b*stard" [sic], should she be sacked from the woke Matildas?".