Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment following a trial at Kingston Crown Court.

The 31-year-old football star was accused of racially abusing PC Stephen Lovell in southwest London on January 30, 2023, after a dispute with a taxi driver.

Kerr admitted to calling Lovell “stupid and white” but denied that her remark was racially aggravated.

Her defense argued that the comment was about power and privilege rather than race, while Kerr testified that she felt police treated her differently because of her Indian heritage.

Incident Details

The altercation began after Kerr and her partner, U.S. midfielder Kristie Mewis, took a London black cab to Kerr’s home.

The driver instead drove them to Twickenham Police Station, alleging they refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick and that Mewis had smashed the vehicle’s rear window.

Both players testified that they felt “held hostage” by the driver, with Mewis kicking in the window in an attempt to escape.

After police intervened, Kerr made the remark to Lovell, leading to the charge.

Verdict and Reaction

Australian footballer Sam Kerr and partner Kristie Mewis arrive at Kingston Crown Court. (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

A jury acquitted Kerr on Monday, and she remained emotionless as the verdict was read. However, she later gave a thumbs-up to her lawyer, Grace Forbes.

In a statement after the trial, Kerr said:

“Following today’s not guilty verdict, I can finally put this challenging period behind me. While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening”

“I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone, and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed.”

Her lawyer indicated an intention to apply for costs, but Judge Peter Lodder stated that Kerr’s behavior contributed to the situation, which would influence any cost decision.

Impact on Career

The trial has been a major headline in Australia, where Kerr is captain of the national team (Matildas) and their all-time leading scorer.

Some critics have questioned whether she should retain the captaincy.

Kerr, who has been sidelined with an ACL injury since January 2024, is expected to return in the coming weeks.

She could feature for Australia in April friendlies against South Korea as part of preparations for the 2026 AFC Asian Cup.