Australian Matildas captain Sam Kerr to face trial in England

“We’ve got our own questions we would like to know, we’ve got to find out what actually happened,” he said.

“It’s very serious allegations. It regards racism and there’s no place for racism in our sport. At the same time, Sam has rights … and we are respectful of that.”

At a press conference in Sydney to announce a Matildas’ Olympic farewell match against China at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on June 3, Mr Gustavsson said he was surprised by the news overnight and reiterated that Football Australia would support players on and off the field.

“I can make it very clear that today ... was the first time I ever heard about it,” he said. “She’s asleep. I haven’t spoken to her yet.

“I can’t comment on the offence because it’s a legal matter. The only thing I can comment on is my experience and interaction with Sam … I only have positive experiences.”

Commonwealth Bank, which sponsors the Matildas and has a separate ambassador deal with Kerr, declined to comment. Lego, which has a sponsorship arrangement with Kerr, also declined to comment.

Kerr was charged under Section 4A Public Order Act 1986, whereby the offender has to have had intent to cause “harassment, alarm or distress to a specific victim”. The maximum penalty is 26 weeks in custody.

Judge Judith Elaine Coello reportedly said Kerr’s defence would be that she did not intend to upset the police officer.

“I understand that the defence is that she didn’t intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the officer, [her behaviour] did not amount to it and it was not racially aggravated,” the Daily Mail quoted the judge as saying to Kerr’s barrister, Grace Forbes.

Kerr is one of Australia’s best-known and most recognisable sporting figures, especially after the Matildas’ run to the semi-finals of the home-hosted Women’s World Cup last year.

She has won four Women’s Super League titles with Chelsea, three FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups and the Women’s Community Shield in 2020. She is Australia’s record goalscorer and has scored 99 goals in 128 matches for her English club since signing in 2019. She is one of Australia’s highest earning female athletes, has won the prestigious Golden Boost award three times and has been shortlisted for the Ballon d’or Feminin.

In May, she carried the Australian flag at the coronation of King Charles in Westminster Abbey.

The striker is recovering from an ACL injury she suffered at a training camp in Morocco. Kerr’s injury is expected to keep her out of the Paris Olympics squad, but Football Australia has not officially ruled her out of the tournament.

Mr Gustavsson said it was too early to discuss selection of the Olympics squad and too soon to say Kerr would be fit to play.

“It’s always tough to announce the roster,” he said. “But with the depth that we’ve built now compared to the last tournaments, there will be players that deserve to be in this roster that there won’t be room for. I need to look at how I can build the best team.

Kerr is expected to go to trial next February with two police officers scheduled to give evidence. The trial is due to last four days.

Her Australian-based manager, Niki White, was not immediately available for comment.

Additional reporting: AAP