Injured captain Sam Kerr will return to the Matildas this week, after Football Australia found her behaviour—the subject of a court case in London last month—“warranted no further action” due to her “professional and sincere acceptance of responsibility, as well as her acknowledgment of the far-reaching implications of on- and off-field actions.”
The 31-year-old was accused of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer after she called him “stupid and white,” but was cleared of the charge.
She ended up facing court after she and her partner, Kristie Mewis, had been out to dinner, then a birthday party, followed by a nightclub in London in January 2023.
After failing to find an Uber to take them home, they hailed a London black cab and asked to be taken to Kerr’s home.
She admitted she began vomiting out the window during the journey. Accounts of what happened next vary, but Kerr and Mewis claimed they feared they were being kidnapped, while the driver said he was taking them to a police station when they indicated they would not pay the cleaning fee.
When the taxi arrived at Twickenham Police Station, in southwest London, Police Constable Stephen Lovell—who was in a car outside the station—told the court he saw broken glass on the road and Kerr climbing out of a broken taxi window.
Mewis later admitted in court that she had kicked out the glass.
The case against Kerr relied heavily on 34 minutes of body camera vision from another constable, which showed Kerr and Mewis interacting with three constables. The vision showed Kerr repeatedly swearing and shouting at the officers.
The jury was shown another section of body cam footage, which had no sound, of Kerr showing her phone to Lovell. The prosecution alleged she was showing off her bank account to the policeman.
At some point during that exchange she uttered the “stupid and white” comment which led to the charge.In a lengthy joint statement from Kerr and Football Australia released on March 31, Kerr said she wanted to express her “sincere regret for how events unfolded.”
“I recognise that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch. I’m proud of the Matildas, the role I have played as a member of that team, and everything we stand for, and I’m committed to learning from this experience. Moving forward, I’m focused on doing my part to ensure we grow even stronger together, and I look forward to having the opportunity of rejoining the team once I’m fit and ready.”
Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac said, “Knowing how Sam feels about the events, along with the additional context we’ve learned, has added vital perspective that the general public may not be aware of. Setting aside those difficulties, this one incident should not offset the incredible contributions she has made, both publicly and privately, on and off the field for more than 15 years.”
Chair of the Football Development Committee Heather Garriock, added that Kerr “remains a valued member of the Matildas, recognised by her teammates for her leadership qualities. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming her back once she is fit and ready, and we fully support her ongoing journey in Australian football.
“The team will continue open dialogue to ensure we all grow and learn together.”
With the matter now favourably concluded for Kerr in court, Football Australia considers it closed, the statement said.
The Board had sought input from various stakeholders during this review, “underscoring Football Australia’s commitment to fairness for all participants,” it said.
Kerr has been granted leave by Chelsea FC Women, but while she may participate in selected training activities, she has not yet been cleared for competitive football.
She has joined the CommBank Matildas training camp for the March/April FIFA Women’s International Window (March 31 to April 8, 2025).
