It is reported that the footage shows Kerr, 31, appearing to flaunt her wealth by showing her bank account to the officer and threatening to “post this on Twitter” while stating she would “get the Chelsea lawyers on this.”

Kerr is currently on trial at Kingston Crown Court, facing alleged charges of racially aggravated harassment towards police constable Stephen Lovell during an incident in the early hours of 30 January 2023.

Prosecutors allege that Kerr and her partner, fellow footballer Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they took a taxi to Twickenham Police Station after a dispute with the driver. The driver reportedly claimed the pair refused to pay for cleaning costs after one of them vomited in the vehicle and that one of them smashed the rear window.

When officers arrived at the scene, Kerr was allegedly seen crawling out of the broken window before being taken into the station, where she reportedly became abusive towards PC Lovell.

In court, footage was played of Kerr repeatedly telling the officer: “Honestly, you guys are f*ing stupid and white.”** Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors that PC Lovell was “shocked, upset, and humiliated” by the remarks.

Kerr’s lawyer, Grace Forbes, argued that the comments were not intended to be racist but were rather an expression of frustration about “positions of power and privilege.” She insisted that Kerr did not feel hostile towards the officer because of his race.

The defence also presented Kerr’s claims that she and Mewis felt “trapped and terrified” in the taxi, fearing they were being kidnapped.

It is reported that the bodycam footage shows Kerr referencing the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer, stating: “One of your people killed and raped a female last year in Clapham… We were begging to get out.”

Kerr has pleaded not guilty to the alleged charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 26 weeks in jail under UK law. The trial is set to continue, with Kerr expected to testify in the coming days.

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The post Sam Kerr faces court, pleads not guilty to alleged racial harassment charge first appeared on The Australia Today.

Footballer Sam Kerr has been charged with “racially aggravated harassment” over a January 2023 incident in which she allegedly insulted a London police officer. According to widespread media reports, she is said to have called the officer a “stupid white bastard”.

Kerr has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has reportedly denied using the word “bastard”.

According to section 33 of the British Crime and Disorder Act, to be found guilty of such an offence, the conduct would have had to cause – or have intended to cause – alarm or distress.

Regardless of the court’s ultimate verdict, one big question seems to occupy the minds of many: does the phrase attributed to Kerr constitute racism?

Kerr was born in Western Australia, and has Indian ancestry on her father’s side. Can she be racist towards a white person, and more specifically to a white police officer?

Assuming it is true Kerr used the term “white”, there is a racial element. But “racial” is not the same as “racist”.

Definitions of racism

It is important to note here that “race” is not a biological category (there is only one human race). Race is a social construct, invented and cemented centuries ago to legitimise colonial atrocities, oppression and forms of subjugation including slavery.

There are many definitions of racism, but there has been a broad consensus for decades that racism is more than “just” prejudice and discriminatory behaviour. It is not simply a matter of less favourable treatment of an individual or group of people based on their actual or ascribed ethnic background, skin colour, origin or related characteristics.

Racism also reflects and manifests as systemic exclusion and marginalisation based on historically rooted power imbalances and racial hierarchies that put white people at the top.

To put it very simply, the scholarly (if not the legal) definition is that “racism equals power plus prejudice”.

In a vicious cycle, everyday racism and discrimination are shaped and justified by racial hierarchies, while they operate continuously in a way that cements power imbalances and racial marginalisation.

This may sound a bit abstract, but if we do not recognise this power dynamic, we trivialise racism as little more than name-calling. We will fail to understand how racism operates and how it continues to affect people from racially marginalised groups in their daily lives.

One way to illustrate the systemic nature of racism is to look at the persistent lack of representation of people of colour in leadership positions in the corporate sector, the media and governments in Australia and elsewhere.

In the United Kingdom, where the alleged incident occurred, institutional racism – including within the police force – has been recognised since the release of the Macpherson report in 1999. It was reaffirmed in 2023 by the Baroness Casey Review, despite some political pushback.

The review found “Met officers are 82% White and 71% male, and the majority do not live in the city they police. As such, the Met does not look like the majority of Londoners.”

Reverse racism?

Anti-discrimination legislation in the UK and Australia usually does not speak explicitly of “racism”. It outlaws certain acts that are motivated, partially or wholly, by a person’s race (or other personal identity markers).

Legislators introduced these laws with the intention of enhancing the legal protections for those who were considered vulnerable to racism. In Australia, for example, the Racial Discrimination Act (1975) is often celebrated as a legal cornerstone in the country’s journey away from its racist “White Australia” history towards a modern multicultural society.

The United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), ratified by Australia in 1975 and the UK in 1969, makes its intention explicit when it calls on all state parties to make it an offence to disseminate “ideas based on racial superiority”.

The issue of power structures should also be seen through an institutional lens. It is difficult to imagine a person on the streets of London with more institutional power than a white police officer.

Being called a “stupid bastard” might hurt someone’s feelings. But while I’m in no position to judge whether Sam Kerr’s alleged actions have caused “distress” to the officer – as the law would require – labelling the incident as racist is clearly not in line with what racism means.

Such a definition would not align with the concept’s institutional and systemic dimensions. It is not what anti-discrimination laws were intended to outlaw.

Claims of anti-white or “reverse” racism are based on a shallow, misguided and inaccurate understanding of what racism really constitutes.

If Kerr’s court case fails to acknowledge the deeper purpose of anti-racism legislation by equating “racial” with “racist”, it risks setting a highly problematic precedent that would undermine efforts to acknowledge and tackle racism in all its forms.

What would be the message to those millions of people in the UK, Australia and elsewhere who have to face racism every day without recognition of the harm it causes and without the support and capacity to sue the perpetrators?

What would they think about their right to equality and their place in society?

Mario Peucker, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The post Can Indian heritage Aussie Sam Kerr be racist towards white police officer? first appeared on The Australia Today.

These words were allegedly spoken during a dispute over a taxi fare last year.

London’s Metropolitan Police have alleged the incident happened in Twickenham, on January 30, 2023.

It is further reported that Kerr has been sick in the cab after a night out and then alleged to have unleashed the slur when police arrived.

Kerr, Australian soccer star of Indian heritage, appeared via video link in Kingston crown court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of racially aggravated harassment of a British police officer.

Court documents reveal Ms Kerr allegedly intended to cause the police officer — PC Lovell — “harassment, alarm or distress” by using “abusive or insulting words or behaviour”, or becoming “disorderly”.

It is also reported that Kerr has “full support” of her team and is fighting to have this charge thrown out of court.

The afternoon before the alleged incident, Kerr had scored three goals for her club Chelsea against Liverpool.

In a statement, the sport’s governing body Football Australia (FA) said it was aware of the legal proceedings:

“As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate.”

In January 2022, Kerr outranked Tim Cahill to become the highest-scoring player for Australia. She has scored 58 goals for Chelsea in the WSL where she’s played since 2020 after stints in Australia and the US.

Kerr has an estimated income of $3.3 million per year in salary and endorsements. She works with six major brands, including Uber and Mastercard and is the face of Nike’s Mercurial boots. 

She also has a deal with EA Sports as the first woman to grace the cover of its premier sports video game and features in Disney+ series Matildas: The World at Our Feet.

Kerr has won the Golden Boot award in leagues in three different continents. She was in 2022 awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and was in 2018 named Young Australian of the Year.

Under Section 4 or 4a of the Public Order Act 1986, under which Kerr was charged, the racially or religiously aggravated version of an offence can attract a maximum penalty on summary conviction, which is six months imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both.

Athletes who undergo a court proceeding may face court penalties and employers can also take action under codes of conduct within their work agreements.

Judge Judith Elaine Coello has ordered Kerr to appear for a four-day trial at the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court in February 2025 at which two police officers are expected to give evidence.

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The post “Stupid white bastard”: Sam Kerr’s alleged racist slur toward London cop revealed first appeared on The Australia Today.

Kerr, hailed as one of the brightest stars in Australian women’s football, is being allegedly accused of a racially aggravated harassment of a police officer in London.

In a statement, the sport’s governing body Football Australia (FA) said it was aware of the legal proceedings: “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Our focus remains on supporting all our players, both on and off the field. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as appropriate.”

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said it was “too early to tell” if the matter would impact Kerr’s role as Matildas captain.

“Sam has rights as an individual, she has pleaded not guilty and I think we need to remember that and we need to respect that.”

He added:

“We’re trying to get to the bottom of it at the moment. We have our own questions we would like to know. We have got to find out what actually happened.” 

The Metropolitan Police say Kerr’s charge relates to an alleged incident involving PC Lovell, who responded to a complaint about a taxi fare in the leafy suburb of Twickenham on January 30, 2023.

Court documents reveal Ms Kerr allegedly intended to cause the police officer — PC Lovell — “harassment, alarm or distress” by using “abusive or insulting words or behaviour”, or becoming “disorderly”.

Kerr’s lawyers are attempting to have the charge dismissed and avoid a criminal trial next year based on the “abuse of process” by Crown prosecutors after it took almost 12 months to lay the charge.

Kerr’s father, Roger Kerr, was born in Kolkata to an Indian mother and an English father. 

In an earlier interview with the BBC, Perth-born striker has expressed her eagerness to connect with her Indian heritage.

“I’m really proud to be Indian and love my skin colour and love my ‘Indian complexion’, as my nana (grandmother) says.”

She added:

“I’ve listened to my nana and my dad’s stories about moving to Australia, feeling like outsiders, having to work their way into society at a time when it wasn’t very multicultural, and it’s taught me a lot. It was hard for my dad to be accepted as a dark-skinned man in Australia. Listening to what they went through has really influenced who I am and taught me to accept people for who they are.”

In January 2022, Kerr outranked Tim Cahill to become the highest-scoring player for Australia. She has scored 58 goals for Chelsea in the WSL where she’s played since 2020 after stints in Australia and the US.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster told the Guardian that the allegations were “deeply distressing” and added that Kerr was entitled to the presumption of innocence, having pleaded not guilty.

“… Racism is a serious contractual issue and if proven, there would need to be sanctions applied as per any other player.”

Under Section 4 or 4a of the Public Order Act 1986, under which Kerr was charged, the racially or religiously aggravated version of an offence can attract a maximum penalty on summary conviction, which is six months imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both.

Athletes who undergo a court proceeding may face court penalties and employers can also take action under codes of conduct within their work agreements.

Kerr has an estimated income of $3.3 million per year in salary and endorsements. She works with six major brands, including Uber and Mastercard and is the face of Nike’s Mercurial boots. Kerr also has a deal with EA Sports as the first woman to grace the cover of its premier sports video game and features in Disney+ series Matildas: The World at Our Feet.

Kerr has won the Golden Boot award in leagues in three different continents. She was in 2022 awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and was in 2018 named Young Australian of the Year.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said he would support Kerr:

“I think FA was very clear on that as well, in terms of supporting our players on and off the field … and I understand why there’s a lot of questions about it, but of course as a human being I will always support.”

Kerr is due to appear at a trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on 3 February 2025.

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The post Australian soccer star of Indian heritage in court for alleged racism, pleads not guilty first appeared on The Australia Today.

Ella Toone put the Lionesses ahead in the first half before Sam Kerr levelled for the co-hosts, but goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo set up a showdown with Spain on Sunday.

On 36 minutes, Russo displayed perseverance in the penalty area by pulling the ball back for Toone to blast into the top corner.

Australia on 63 minutes equalised with an even better shot from Kerr, who gathered the ball on the halfway line before sprinting at her Chelsea teammate Millie Bright and firing a 30-yard rocket that soared past Mary Earps.

However, the Australian defence failed to cope with Bright’s long pass forward, and Hemp showed great determination and sent her shot beyond Arnold.

Kerr missed two wonderful chances to equalise for the Matildas before England sealed their final berth with four minutes to go when Hemp delivered a superb pass through to Russo, who beat Arnold with an angled effort.

England coach Sarina Wiegman said after the match as quoted by FIFA’s official website, “We achieved the final and it’s unbelievable. It feels like we won it but we didn’t win it, we just won this game. We played a hard game but again we found a way to win.

“We scored three goals. We have been talking about ruthlessness all the time and this team has ruthlessness, whether it is up front or in defence.”

We want to keep the ball out of the net and we really want to win. We stuck together and stick to the plan and it worked again.” 

Australia coach Tony Gustavsson also expressed his disappointment after failing to make it to the final. 

“In the 81st, 83rd and 85th minutes, we had three sitters in a row. It’s a failure to lose a game, [but] I am happy that the fans gave the players support after the game. They are proud of the players, that they leave everything out there.”

“We promised each other we would leave everything out there and that is a success and they left it all out there. Unfortunately tonight it wasn’t enough,” said Gustavsson

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The post FIFA Women’s World Cup: Matildas’ dream run ends as England creates history by entering first time into final  first appeared on The Australia Today.