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Chelsea footballer Sam Kerr, who called a Metropolitan Police officer stupid and white in January 2023, has been found not guilty at Kingston Crown Court of causing racially aggravated harassment.
The Australian international made the comments to Pc Stephen Lovell during an incident in south-west London in the early hours of January 30 2023. Ms Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who complained that they had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick and that one of them had smashed the vehicle’s rear window.
At the police station, Kerr became “abusive and insulting” towards Pc Lovell, calling him “f****** stupid and white”. A jury returned the not guilty verdict on Tuesday after deliberating at Kingston Crown Court since the previous day.
Towards the end of 2024, Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor indicated Kerr was due to return from injury in February or March. The forward sustained an ACL injury earlier that year, and has been keen not to rush her comeback.
“Sam is not practicing with us this week. She is practicing individually,” Bompastor said more recently, with most her players in Portugal for a warm weather training camp. “The most important thing is all of us at the club are fully supporting Sam this week.”
Kerr signed a new contract with the London club in 2024 despite her injury. “Having the opportunity to stay at a club like Chelsea means a lot to me,” the Australian said after signing a deal running until 2026. “I’m really excited to continue to push and to try to win trophies.”
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