Matildas captain Sam Kerr was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment after a trial in London. The case stemmed from an incident two years ago involving an altercation with a taxi driver. While the jury's decision brings an end to the legal proceedings, questions remain about the broader implications for Kerr's career and the future of women's football in Australia.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr leaves Kingston Crown court in London after being found not guilty of of racially aggravated harassment. Matildas captain Sam Kerr leaves Kingston Crown court in London after being found not guilty of of racially aggravated harassment.The Matildas captain’s high-profile criminal trial has traversed complex issues and where it leaves her remains to be seen, enabling observers to reach their own conclusions about the Matildas star well before a verdict was reached.
Consider the case in Kerr’s favour. After departing a London nightclub, the Chelsea striker and her partner Kristie Mewis entered a taxi. Kerr felt unwell, and vomited out the window, at which point, Kerr said, the driver berated her and began driving recklessly.
For Kerr’s detractors, this wider context obscures the central point: here was an entitled millionaire footballer, drunk, vomiting in the back of a taxi, and then using rude language as police officers sought to deescalate the situation. “I’m not paying for some fucking dodgy cunt’s fucking window,” Kerr said, in footage played during the trial. At one point Kerr showed her bank balance to the officer; she also threatened to “get the Chelsea fucking lawyers on this”.
As the evidence over the past week revealed, there are competing kinds of privilege at play here – with enough material for those on either side of the debate to claim vindication. The video footage is not flattering to Kerr; the context explains, even excuses, say her backers.captain and Chelsea’s star striker, remains to be seen. Much will depend on whether club or country wish to pursue sanctions, or whether the reputational damage sees sponsors cut ties with the 31-year-old.
Sam Kerr Matildas Racial Harassment Football Trial
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