Australia’s Sam Kerr, one of the world’s most famous soccer players, will stand trial in Britain for racially abusing a police officer to which she has pleaded not guilty, judicial sources quoted by AFP said on Monday.

Sam Kerr has pleaded not guilty to racially abusing a police officer

The facts are older and date back to January 30 last year in Twickenham, a suburb of south-west London, said a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police. The facts took place when a policeman intervened in a dispute over the fare in a taxi, he noted.

30-year-old Chelsea player Sam Kerr will appear in court in February 2025. She has been charged with “threatening, abusive” behaviour, a charge that carries a fine or prison sentence if convicted.

Football Federation Australia chief executive James Johnson called the allegations “disturbing and very serious”.

“This is racism and there should be no racism in our sport,” added the director of Football Australia, also stressing that Sam Kerr “has the right to a procedure”.

Australian women’s national team coach Toni Gustavsson said he was “surprised” and could not “comment on the crime as the legal investigation is ongoing”.

Operated in early January on a severe injury to the cruciate ligaments of the right knee, transferred to Morocco, the player is recovering after the intervention, but the continuation of the season and especially the Olympic Games in Paris are at risk.

Sam Kerr, who has been playing for Chelsea since the 2019-2020 season, won four Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups with the London team, writes Agerpres.