Sam Kerr, the Australian soccer star and Matildas captain, has been acquitted of racially abusing a London police officer. A jury reached a unanimous verdict on Tuesday, declaring Kerr not guilty of racially aggravated harassment stemming from an incident on January 30, 2023, where she referred to police constable Stephen Lovell as “stupid and white.”
During the trial, Kerr acknowledged using those words during a tense exchange at a police station but contested that her remarks constituted racial abuse. She argued that the comments were not intended as an insult based on race but rather a reaction to what she perceived as the officer’s misuse of authority.
The incident arose after Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis, faced allegations from a taxi driver regarding a refused payment for damages after an altercation. Kerr testified that she felt “trapped” in the taxi and feared for her safety, especially moments before Mewis reportedly broke the rear window of the vehicle.
Kerr, who identifies as a white Anglo-Indian, also expressed concerns about differential treatment by the police based on her perceived racial background. As the captain of Australia’s national team, Kerr has an impressive record, with 69 goals since her debut in 2009, and joined Chelsea FC in 2019, scoring 99 goals in 128 appearances. She is anticipated to return to the field after recovering from an ACL injury sustained in January 2024.