AP
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On Tuesday, Sam Kerr, recognized as one of the foremost female footballers globally, was acquitted of racially aggravated harassment against a police officer.

Kerr, who plays as a striker for both the Australian national team and the English club Chelsea, acknowledged that during a heated encounter with Police Constable Stephen Lovell at a London police station in January 2023, she referred to him as “stupid and white.” However, she firmly denied that her remarks constituted an offense as charged.

The jury took over four hours to deliberate before reaching a decision on the seventh day of the trial held at Kingston Crown Court in London.

Following the not guilty verdict, Kerr expressed relief through a statement on Instagram, saying, “I can finally move on from this difficult phase. While I regret how I expressed myself during what was a traumatic experience, I never meant to insult anyone, and I appreciate the jury’s unanimous decision.”

Reports indicate that Kerr, alongside her fiancée Kristie Mewis—an American soccer player for West Ham in England—had been out socializing when a taxi driver brought them to the police station. The driver claimed they refused to cover cleanup costs after one of them became ill, leading to them allegedly damaging the taxi’s rear window.

During the taxi journey, Kerr stated that she felt “trapped” and was frightened for her safety. At the police station, she reportedly directed abusive language at Lovell and used the terms “stupid and white.” During cross-examination, Kerr admitted her choice of words was unfortunate but maintained that the reference to Lovell being “white” was not intended as an insult.

Identifying as a white Anglo-Indian, Kerr stated, “I felt he was using his authority against me by misrepresenting me … I wanted to convey that the police’s power and privilege made it impossible for them to comprehend the fear we were experiencing at that moment.”

After the jury’s decision, Judge Peter Lodder remarked on Kerr’s conduct, noting, “Her actions significantly contributed to the accusation. While I respect the jury’s verdict, this aspect is crucial regarding costs.”

The trial has attracted extensive media coverage in Australia, with daily proceedings analyzed in detail by the press.

Public discussion has focused on the credibility of the accusations and Kerr’s behavior during police questioning.

Critics have questioned her role as the captain of the Matildas, Australia’s beloved national women’s soccer team. Kerr holds the record as the team captain and leading scorer, with an impressive 69 goals since her debut in 2009.

In response, Football Australia has expressed its support for Kerr, indicating a desire to discuss the incident with her.

“Football Australia is dedicated to establishing behavioral standards and expectations for all involved in our sport, particularly for our national team players, as leadership carries additional responsibilities both on and off the pitch,” stated the organization. “We will discuss lessons learned from this situation with Sam and continue to offer her support moving forward.”

Wednesday’s statement from Football Australia acknowledged the considerable pressures faced by Kerr, Mewis, their families, and all parties affected, emphasizing the incident’s impact on the sport.

“Throughout this period, Football Australia has remained committed to supporting Sam and will continue to do so as she focuses on her football career, recovery from injury, and eventual return to the game.”

Since joining Chelsea in 2019, Kerr has netted 99 goals in 128 appearances, contributing to the team’s status as reigning English champions and a top contender in the Women’s Champions League.

Unfortunately, she has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury during a training camp in Morocco with Chelsea in January 2024.

Kerr is anticipated to make her comeback in the coming weeks, just in time for a couple of international friendlies against South Korea in April, ahead of the 2026 AFC Asian Cup.