Soccer Star Sam Kerr Opens Up on Recent Traumatic Incident and Comeback Possibilities

The past few months have been quite turbulent for Sam Kerr. Having been entangled in a court case after being charged with racially abusing a police officer a couple of years ago, she was finally proven not guilty during her trial at the Kingston Crown Court. As the conclusion of the case brought a sigh of relief to Kerr, it also paved the way for her return to the Australian national team.

Due to the ongoing saga, the Matildas had somehow closed the doors to the national team for the skipper. But now, both parties including Sam and the members of the Football Australia Board met to discuss the gravity of the whole situation. During the meeting, the 31-year-old condemned her actions, also recognizing the overall implications under the code of conduct that the Australian federation has applied for all players, coaches, staff, and officials.

“I want to express my sincere regret for how events unfolded,” said Kerr in a joint statement with the Matildas. Extending her thanks to family, friends, and fans for their support in the difficult situation, she added, “I recognize that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch.”

Further thanking the Australian board, the Chelsea veteran vowed to do the part that is expected of her. “I’m proud of the Matildas, the role I have played as a member of that team, and everything we stand for, and I’m committed to learning from this experience,” added Kerr.

Notably, the event dates back to January 30, 2023. Unable to fetch an Uber following a night out at a friend’s party, Kerr and her girlfriend, Kristie Mewis, took a cab. During the ride, the former USWNT star began feeling unwell and leaned out of the window to vomit. However, Sam explained during the trial that the cab driver rolled up the window and drove erratically for 15–20 minutes.

This caused panic among the couple, with Mewis even ending up kicking the cab’s window during an attempt to open the car’s doors and windows. Simultaneously, that instigated the cabbie to make a detour to Twickenham police station, where Kerr was accused of making abusive remarks toward police constable Stephen Lovell.

While the Chelsea forward admitted in court to calling Lovell “stupid and white,” she denied that her words amounted to a criminal offense. The whole incident ended up being dragged to court, bringing the two love birds into boiling water. But it was just last month the trial ended as she was proved not guilty by the jury.

Interestingly, after the whole saga ended, Kerr shared a heartfelt note, stating, ‘I can finally put this challenging period behind me.’ While she had apologized for her actions at the time, a formal admission of guilt was still required under the Matildas’ watch. Even so, her return to the national team would take time!

Sam Kerr makes Matildas return in a ‘Non-playing capacity’

This is because the former Chicago Red Stars forward is still not ready to play. To recall, Sam sustained an ACL tear during training camp with Chelsea in January last year. Since then, she has yet to make a return on the pitch. As the Matildas gear up for their upcoming doubleheader clashes against South Korea on April 4 and April 7, she was still called up to reunite with her national teammates. However, don’t anticipate her taking the field just yet.

With Chelsea’s approval, Kerr has joined the ongoing training camp as part of her return-to-play program. This means she’ll only focus on her rehabilitation. Well, this is the least that the Matildas could do, beyond also accepting her apology. “Setting aside those difficulties, this one incident should not offset the incredible contributions she has made, both publicly and privately, on and off the field – for more than 15 years,” said Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac.

Likewise, Chair of the Football Development Committee and Football Australia Board Member Heather Garriock, added, “Sam (Kerr) remains a valued member of the Matildas, recognised by her teammates for her leadership qualities.”

While expressing his anticipation to see the return of the Australian skipper, Garriock also mentioned the crucial step the board has taken in light of the events surrounding Mewis. Apparently, Football Australia has optimized its guidelines at every level “to reinforce accountability, address potential reputational risks, and explore policy enhancements that will help prevent similar incidents and support everyone involved in the future.”

Regardless, it’s good to see Sam Mewis back to the Matildas!

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