Matildas veteran Emily van Egmond faced a grilling over Sam Kerr on Tuesday, declaring the 31-year-old superstar should remain Australian captain despite calls for her to stand down.
Van Egmond fronted media the same day that Socceroos legend Robbie Slater slammed Football Australia’s “weak” punishment of Kerr ahead of her Matildas return.
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On Monday, FA finally ended weeks of speculation over possible disciplinary action that followed her highly-publicised UK court case, announcing that Kerr was clear to return to full duties with the Matildas.
The team has upcoming matches against the Korea Republic in Sydney and Newcastle, beginning on Friday.
Matildas vice-captain Van Egmond said that Kerr “definitely shouldn’t be stepping down”.
“As teammates and a team we are in full support of her and we are looking forward to the game on Friday,” Van Egmond said.
Van Egmond had to face a repeated line of questioning about Kerr before a FA press officer appeared to step in and ask for questions to be focused on the game.
Van Egmond said: “The FA put out their statement and it speaks for itself.”
The saga comes after Kerr was found not guilty on one charge of racially aggravated harassment in February after she called a police officer “f***ing stupid and white”.
Slater called for Kerr to stand down as the Matildas captain in the lead up to the friendly international matches.
“Football Australia has failed in its role as guardians of the game in this country,” he wrote for CODE Sports.
“The best thing that Kerr can do when she returns to action is to decline any offer to again captain the Matildas.”
Slater hoped Kerr would now “do the right thing and she simply cannot captain the national team again”, saying the decision not to rescind her captaincy means FA have failed to hold players accountable to the national code of conduct.
‘No further action’ Kerr joins Matildas | 03:38
In response to the frenzy surrounding her court case, Kerr spoke of her “regret” over the incident.
“I want to express my sincere regret for how events unfolded,” she said in Football Australia’s statement.
“I recognise that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch.
“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.”
Emily van Egmond at her press conference, and Sam Kerr outside court.Source: Getty Images
FA chairman Anter Isaac said that the incident shouldn’t overshadow Kerr’s contribution to the game.
Kerr also has full support from her teammates, Van Egmond said.
Kerr has rejoined her teammates in a non-playing capacity. She has not played since tearing her ACL during a Chelsea training camp in January last year.
Steph Catley has captained the Matildas in Kerr’s absence and will continue for the Korea Republic friendlies.
The Matildas named a 23-player squad to face South Korea, with midfielder Katrina Gorry withdrawing due to an ankle injury suffered in West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League on the weekend.
“Now it’s time to get on the field and let the football do the talking,” Van Egmond said.
Ingrid Ingebrigtsen, 18, told the court that she was slapped in the face by father Gjert, who denies all allegations, after forgetting to bring a heart rate monitor to training
Jakob Ingebrigtsen during his father’s abuse trial in Norway.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s younger sister has told their father’s abuse trial that she was slapped in the face and called “stupid” after forgetting to bring a heart rate monitor to training. Gjert Ingebrigtsen, who denies the allegations, is facing up to six years behind bars if he is found guilty at the end of a high-profile trial in Sandes, Norway.
On day three, Ingrid Ingebrigtsen, who is now 18, said that in either 2018 or 2019 Gjert physically struck her and also called her “incompetent.” It is one of seven alleged occasions in which Gjert is accused of abusing Ingrid, who has since quit running.
“I clearly said: ‘Shut up’, because it didn’t stop,” Ingrid told the court. “When I said that, I got a hand in the face. He hit me in the face. It was fast and it was hard. It hurt.”
The indictment against the father, who coached Jakob and older siblings Henrik and Filip until the allegations were first made public in 2022, says he is accused of using “threats, coercion, violence, restricting her freedom of movement and violating her in other ways” against Ingrid.
Describing another incident where he “screamed” at her in a car to the extent she broke down in tears, Ingrid told the court: “He asked me if I was afraid of him.
“I think that was very difficult to answer. I remember thinking: ‘What happens if I answer yes? What happens if I answer no?’ So I didn’t answer right away. Then I remember he asked again and again until I answered. Then I ended up answering ‘yes’.”
Jakob Ingebrigtsen celebrates winning the world indoor 1500m title on Sunday in Nanjing.
Throughout his evidence Jakob would only refer to Gjert as the “defendant.” And asked why he had stopped calling Gjert “dad” aged 11, Jakob added: “I no longer saw this person as a father. I thought that the things he says, the things he does and has done, are not worthy of a father.
As a result of the alleged abuse, Jakob said: “I have a hard time letting people in and I have a hard time trusting people.”
The trial continues. It is expected to last until mid-May.
Multiple world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen has told a Norwegian court that he lived in fear of his father Gjert from a young age as high-profile trial gets underway
11:53, 26 Mar 2025Updated 12:20, 26 Mar 2025
Jakob Ingebrigtsen in court for his father’s trial.
The trial, which is set to last until mid-May, began less than 48 hours after Ingebrigtsen completed a World Indoor double in China. And during his time on the stand Ingebrigtsen, 24, made a series of harrowing claims about how his father physically and psychologically abused him and siblings from a young age.
Gjert, who faces up to six years in prison if convicted, has denied any allegation of violence. The claims first came to light in 2022 when Jakob, plus older brothers Henrik and Filip, stopped being coached by Gjert.
They then went to Norwegian newspaper VG to tell their stories, claiming that they did so to protect younger sister Ingrid, who was alleged to have been struck in the face by a wet towel after she told Gjert she did not want to go for a run. Yesterday the court was shown an image of Ingrid with a mark on her face.
A courtroom sketch of Gjert Ingebrigtsen on day one of the trial.
Ingebrigtsen, a multiple world record holder who has already won more than 30 major gold medals, referred to Gjert as the “defendant” throughout his evidence.
And detailing one account when he was just “seven or eight” years old, Ingebrigtsen said: “I’m just standing in the kitchen and looking down at the ground. The defendant is standing over me and screaming at me. He hits me several times on the top of the head.
“If I didn’t do as he did, he would come and shame me and beat me until I was sick.”
Ingebrigtsen also recalled one alleged incident when Gjert kicked him in the stomach and another when travelling in a car with his siblings when their father threatened to “shame him and beat him to death, or something similar.”
Jakob Ingebrigtsen celebrates winning the world indoor 1500m title on Sunday in Nanjing.
Gjert was also accused of referring to Jakob as a “f***ing idiot”, “thug”, “stupid”, “lesser” and “terrorist”. In 2014 or 2015 he threw a PlayStation Jakob was using out the window of their family home.
Ingebrigtsen went on to explain that he has struggled to trust people because of his father’s behaviour and grew becoming wary of showing emotion.
“If I was happy or did something nice, it could be used against me if I was a little tired at training the next day,” he said. “I was very conscious about showing emotions. I ended up not doing it. I have a hard time letting people in and I have a hard time trusting people.”
Asked why he had stopped calling Gjert “dad” aged 11, Jakob added: “I no longer saw this person as a father. I thought that the things he says, the things he does and has done, are not worthy of a father.”
On Wednesday morning Ingebrigtsen was set to be questioned by Gjert’s legal team. The trial continues.
The Matildas are still searching for a win in the SheBelieves Cup and while it was a gutsy 2-1 fightback against the No.1 team in the world, the USA, it threatens to disguise the biggest problem Football Australia is yet to solve; who will coach the Matildas?
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Even Sam Kerr’s court case in London proved a convenient distraction with the talking point both heading into this tournament, and after their opening 4-0 loss to Japan, centring around the injured skipper. Was the Kerr case a distraction? Should she still be captain? They were just some of the repetitive headlines.
Now the narrative needs to turn to the fact that the Matildas still don’t have a long term coach.
This is nothing against interim coach Tom Sermanni, who has been an incredible servant to the women’s game for 12 years with this, his third stint as the Matildas mentor. But the Australian National Team needs stability, longevity, strategic planning and fresh ideas.
They need a full time coach.
It’s been seven months since Tony Gustavsson finished his four-year stint — the most important tenure in Matildas history with the home World Cup in 2023 — with no word yet on any replacement.
For context, when Graham Arnold quit as Socceroos coach in September, they hired Tony Popovic four days later. The Socceroos had World Cup qualifiers and needed to fill the hole fast, but the Matildas have their own deadline with the Asian Cup, which is being held on home soil next March.
The Matildas won the Asian Cup in 2010 but failed to make it past the quarterfinals at the last Cup in 2022. The stakes are high. The commercial success of the Matildas has never been greater. The team created a tidal wave of excitement and interest from the Australian public like we’ve never seen before during their successful World Cup campaign in 2023. And if there is one thing that sustains that passion, it’s winning.
We have another opportunity to relive the Matildas hysteria and fandom of 2023 when we host next year’s Asian Cup. There’s a real opportunity to again create something special during the tournament and preserve the Matildas legacy. The packed stadiums, strong viewership and water cooler conversations can become the platforms to inspire and be a national source of pride. Not just strong performances, but winning scorelines, are essential to that success.
It was also widely expected Gustavsson wouldn’t be back after his contract came to an end, meaning either the search should have started much sooner or it’s taking way too long.
There’s been little said about FA’s shortlist. From what we do know, representatives have been reported as saying they were hoping to speak to the England Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman. Yet Wiegman is contracted to the World Cup Finalists until 2027 and is in the midst of preparing for the women’s Euros 2025 where they’re hoping to defend their title. The Euros final also isn’t until the end of July, leaving it very late for discussions and a possible, but improbable, move.
There were also rumours Football Australia was interested in former Manchester United women and San Diego Waves coach Casey Stoney although she has recently been appointed as the Canadian women’s head coach.
Closer to home, Ross Aloisi, Ante Juric and former Matilda Tanya Oxtoby were also reportedly being considered despite Oxtoby being contracted as the Northern Ireland women’s coach until 2027.
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Another woman in the pathways system, Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney took up a position as the Japanese Assistant Coach earlier this year.
The Matildas World Cup legacy is at risk if a coaching solution isn’t found soon. Commentator Grace Gill raised the concern after the Matildas loss to the USA.
“I think another thing the USA has is a coach (Emma Hayes) who is backed, who is there for the future, who has got these grand plans and we’re seeing those plans start to fall into place. Tommy Sermanni is in a position where he’s the interim coach, we know he’s not there long term,” Gill said.
“So in the way we saw such experimentation by Emma Hayes she’s got that backing, she’s got that support, you can see the federation is there saying ‘yep we’re behind you’ bringing in the 17s, the 20s, the senior team in the US altogether.
“Imagine that happening in Australia our 17s training with our senior team so there’s this stylistic pathway up from our juniors, our grassroots. These are grand plans, grand ambitions but Emma Hayes has that backing and Tom Sermanni is a little hamstrung in how much he can do while he is in the job.”
Former Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes only started as the USA coach a year ago and has already blooded 15 debutants and is unbeaten in 17 games.
The clock is ticking to fill the vacant coaching position and there’s so much more than just a game to lose for the Matildas.
A Spanish court has found former football chief Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso and fined him, but acquitted him of the charge of coercion.
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Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two-and-a-half years for Rubiales — one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion for having allegedly pressured the player to downplay the incident afterwards.
Judge Jose Manuel Fernandez-Prieto at Spain’s High Court found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault over the kiss and fined him 10,800 euros ($11,300), but spared him a prison sentence.
Rubiales was also banned from going within a 200-metre radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for a period of one year.
Kissing a woman on the mouth “is not the normal way of greeting people with whom one has no sentimental relationship,” the judge wrote in his ruling, saying Rubiales had violated Hermoso’s “sexual freedom” without her consent.
Rubiales’ lawyer Olga Tubau Martinez told AFP her client “has decided to appeal the ruling”.
Video footage of the scandal that rocked Spanish football shows then-Spanish federation chief Rubiales clasping Hermoso’s head at the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney and kissing her on the lips before letting her go with two slaps on the back.
The global outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport.
Luis Rubiales (R) next to Jennifer Hermoso (L) after winning the Women’s World Cup.Source: AFP
Hermoso, 34, said on the opening day of the trial on February 3 she felt “disrespected” after a non-consensual kiss that “should not happen in any social or work setting”.
Her teammates described under oath how she cried and felt “overwhelmed” following the incident, while her brother Rafael Hermoso said she came under pressure to downplay the affair to protect the federation chief.
But Rubiales, 47, told the court he was “totally sure” Hermoso consented to the kiss as she went up to receive her winner’s medal, which was broadcast live around the world, and denied putting pressure on her after the incident.
“She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, she lifted me, and when I came down I asked her if I can give you a kiss, and she said ‘OK’. That’s what happened,” he said, describing it as “an act of affection”.
Rubiales conceded he “made a mistake” in the incident on the podium, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied he had committed any offence.
Former president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales outside court.Source: AFP
Rubiales’ defence team had argued that video images of Hermoso celebrating and drinking champagne with her teammates in the changing room shortly after the incident prove the player was not upset by the kiss, she added.
But prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil rejected this line of thought during her closing arguments in which she also said there was “no doubt” the kiss was “non-consensual”.
“How long are we going to keep demanding heroic behaviour from the victim of a sexual assault? Wasn’t she entitled to celebrate such a sporting triumph?” she asked.
The court acquitted the three other accused in the case, ex-women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, of the charge of coercion.
Jennifer Hermoso arrives at the court of San Fernando de Henares.Source: AFP
Equality Minister Ana Redondo welcomed the verdict, saying it demonstrated that “when there is no consent, there is aggression”.
Rubiales’ stance on the stand contrasted with the defiance he displayed when the scandal broke.
During an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, he played down the importance of the kiss and rebuffed calls for his resignation, railing against “false feminism”.
Rubiales resigned in September that year after football’s global governing body FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault. He had been federation chief since 2018.
Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the Spain national women’s team who now plays for Mexican club Tigres, was not called up to the squad immediately after the World Cup.
New coach Montse Tome explained she wanted to protect the player and denied omitting her from the squad was a “punishment”.
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni has praised the “fantastic job” done by Steph Catley as Australia’s captain in the absence of Sam Kerr, saying it’s “irrelevant” whether the Chelsea star is restored as skipper when she returns from a long-term knee injury.
Kerr hasn’t played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in January last year.
Since then, star Arsenal left-back Catley has handled the captaincy with aplomb, while Kerr’s stocks have fallen after she was charged – and subsequently found not guilty – of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer after calling him “f***ing stupid and white”.
Despite the not guilty verdict, there have been calls to strip Kerr of the Matildas’ captaincy, with Football Australia in no hurry to make a decision on leadership as the star striker remains sidelined and not part of the national squad for the four-nation She Believes Cup in the United States.
When asked on Thursday if he would be comfortable with Kerr being reinstated as Australia’s captain, Sermanni didn’t give a yes or no response.
Sam Kerr remains sidelined with a knee injury. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“That will be a decision that gets made when that happens, and whatever decision gets made, it gets made,” Sermanni said ahead of the Matildas’ clash with Japan in Houston on Friday morning (AEDT).
“How that decision gets made, who makes it, and whose involved in it, I really don’t know, because it’s really completely and utterly not part of our focus, because at this minute in time. Sam is injured.
“She’s been injured for 13 months, hasn’t played an international for 16 months, and the team is just getting on with its normal business, so it’s not part of the conversation.”
Sermanni said the priority regarding Kerr was getter her “healthy as quickly and as safely as possible, and to get her back on the field”.
“Particularly in relation to me, the captaincy issue is kind of quite irrelevant, because by the time she comes back into the team, I might not be here, so there’s really no point in me commenting on that,” he said.
Steph Catley leads the Matildas out for the second half of the game against Germany at the Paris Olympics.Source: Supplied
“Whoever comes in, whoever that coach is, who knows what’s going to happen, so really from my perspective, (and) from the team’s perspective, it’s something that’s really not that relevant at the moment, and to be honest, Steph Catley has stepped in as captain and done a fantastic job.”
Sermanni said he been in contact with Kerr since the end of her court case in London last week.
“We’ve checked in. We haven’t actually had conversations, but we’ve been in touch through text, so we’ve actually been in contact with each other,” he said.
“It’s been a pretty long couple of weeks for Sam, so the last thing she needs is people constantly badgering her at this time.
“We’ve had some contact. She knows what we’re thinking. Our physios are keeping in touch, (and) keeping in touch with Chelsea, so the lines of communication are very much open.”
Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni has praised Steph Catley’s work as Australia’s captain. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
He said he had yet to address the Kerr matter with the Matildas squad in the current camp.
“It hasn’t really come on the radar,” Sermanni said.
“We’ve just come into camp and really not had much time to do much. The team’s in good spirits, upbeat, and if there’s anything to be discussed about (Kerr), then, we’ll discuss it at some stage during this tournament.”
Sermanni was unsure whether he would still be in charge of the Matildas – who have been without a permanent coach since Tony Gustavsson’s departure following the team’s disappointing effort at last year’s Paris Olympics – for the two-match series in NSW against South Korea in April, when Kerr could be involved.
“I honestly don’t know. Basically I’m here as long as I’m required in the job, and if it finishes after this tournament, then so be it,” he said.
“At some stage, and probably I would suggest between now ad the middle of this year, there will be somebody else in the hot seat.”
While De Vanna received support from some sections of the football community, a number also doubted her claims while a number of Matildas refuted the allegations, with Kerr referring to the team environment at the time as a “safe haven”.
With Kerr, 31, found not guilty on Wednesday (AEDT) on one charge of racially aggravated harassment after she called a London polic officer “f**king stupid and white”, Football Australia released a statement stating it was “committed to supporting Sam”.
Sam Kerr was found not guilty at Kingston Crown Court in south London. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
The statement failed to address Kerr’s captaincy of the popular Australian side and De Vanna, who was largely ostracised after her comments four years ago, took to social media to blast the governing body.
“Supporting somebody who has behaved poorly vs not supporting someone who calls out poor behaviour, that’s the true culture of the inner circle,” De Vanna wrote in a post on X.
“Double standards. At least I own my s**t!”
Lisa De Vanna is one of the best strikers in Australian history. (Photo by Maddie Meyer – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
After the not guilty verdict, the judge cautioned Kerr that “her own behaviour” in the police station had contributed to the case being brought in the first place.
After deliberating for a touch over four hours, the jury handed down the verdict at Kingston Crown Court, London, just after 2pm on Tuesday (1am, Wednesday, AEDT).
Kerr looked down as she learned the verdict and then hugged wellwishers including her family.
News Corp Australia’s Sophie Ellsworth, who was in court, said many of Kerr’s supporters in the public gallery broke down in tears as the verdict was read out – including her fiancee Kristie Mewis.
Kerr showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict but gave a thumbs up to her lawyer after the judge had left. An expressionless Kerr left the court shortly afterwards before posting a statement to social media.
“Following today’s not guilty verdict, I can finally put this challenging period behind me,” Kerr wrote.
“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 agreed.
“I would like to thank my partner Kristie, my family, friends and all the fans for their love and support, especially those who attended court each day.
“I am fully focused on getting back on to the pitch and looking forward to an exciting year ahead for me and my family.”
Van Egmond, speaking with Code Sports, addressed the million dollar question about whether Kerr should remain captain of the squad.
Kerr (front row, second from right) and De Vanna (front row, far right) ahead of a 2019 Women’s World Cup match in France. (Photo by Jean-Pierre Clatot / AFP)Source: AFP
“We are all with Sam,” she said.
“She’s an amazing person, one of my really good friends and I check in with her regularly just to see that she’s okay and that’s the most important thing to me.
“In terms of captaincy, that’s obviously up to other people to decide but for me she’s a great leader. She’s always been a tremendous leader and I wouldn’t have anyone else lead the team.”
Football Australia’s statement read: “Football Australia acknowledges today’s Not Guilty verdict regarding Sam Kerr and welcomes Sam’s statement.
“Sam has been a key figure in Australian football for many years, and we recognise the significant pressures that this matter has brought to Sam, Kristie, her family, and everyone involved, including the impact it’s had on the game.
Star Chelsea striker Kerr is still recovering from a knee injury. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Throughout this period, Football Australia has remained committed to supporting Sam and will continue to do so as she focuses on her footballing career, rehabilitation from injury and return to play.
“Football Australia invests heavily in building the behavioural standards and expectations of all involved with our game, especially for all our national team players, where leadership comes with added responsibilities on and off the field.
“Football Australia will reflect with Sam on learnings from this matter and we will continue to provide appropriate support for her moving forward.
“We look forward to Sam’s return to the pitch and her continued contributions to both her club and the Matildas on the world stage.”
Kerr remains sidelined as she recovers from the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament she suffered in January last year.
She won’t play for the Matildas in this month’s She Believes Cup tournament in the US.
Sam Kerr will always be remembered as one of the greatest women’s players to grace the game, but one drunken night out in London has raised questions over the Australian superstar’s reputation.
The 31-year-old Chelsea striker, who is mixed race, issued a public apology despite being found not guilty on Wednesday of racially aggravated abuse of a police officer in the early hours of January 30, 2023.
Kerr was recorded calling the policeman “stupid and white” but claimed she did not use “whiteness as an insult”.
The judge said after the verdict: “I take the view her own behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation.”
In a statement, Kerr apologised for “expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening”, with the case threatening to leave an indelible mark on an otherwise unblemished career.
Whether the case has a lasting impact remains to be seen. Kerr has not played football in over a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL).
Football Australia chief James Johnson refused to speculate during the trial on her future with the national team and whether she should remain captain and in a statement on Wednesday, FA was noncommittal on the matter.
“Football Australia invests heavily in building the behavioural standards and expectations of all involved with our game, especially for all our national team players, where leadership comes with added responsibilities on and off the field,” the statement read.
“Football Australia will reflect with Sam on learnings from this matter and we will continue to provide appropriate support for her moving forward.”
Interim Australia coach Tom Sermanni said last week he expected Kerr to be fit for selection when the Matildas host South Korea in April, but he too declined to comment on whether she was the right person to lead the side.
The Australian Financial Review’s Myriam Robin, in an opinion piece, wrote that Kerr’s suitability to be skipper “has more to do with public opinion, and its tolerance for entitled or idiotic athletes behaving badly”.
“That tolerance has, lately, been shrinking,” she added.
Meanwhile, Erin Smith of Code Sports was adamant Kerr should be “stripped of her Matildas’ captain armband and banned from any leadership roles”.
“If the captain of any of our national men’s teams, the Socceroos included, had been found drunk in a taxi, mid-season, and using deplorable language they would have been stood down from the role immediately,” she wrote.
“So why should Kerr get any special treatment?”
Kerr leaves Kingston Crown Court after being found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment. (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Well, The West Australian’s Kate Emery went some way to answering that question in an opinion piece where she argued the trial was a “waste of everyone’s time”, adding the not-guilty verdict was the “only good bit of news” to come out of the entire ordeal.
“An almighty mess of a bad night that should never have made it to the courts and turned into a two-year-long circus,” Emery added.
“Was Kerr, who has Anglo-Indian heritage, acting like a drunken prat when she said those four words to a police officer during a dispute over a taxi fare after a night out? Sure.
“Was she racially abusing the cop when she did so? Nope.
“And it seems like the jury that returned a not-guilty verdict agreed with me.”
Emery went on to write that it “would be a shame” if this incident, and the commentary that followed, “tainted” Kerr’s reputation in the long-term.
“Particularly given the drunken antics Australia’s male sporting heroes have long gotten away with, even been lionised for,” she added, arguing the double standards exposed by the Kerr saga with men often instead lauded for their “larrikin spirit”.
Emery also drew attention to the fact Kerr, and not her white fiancé Kristie Mewis, was arrested for criminal damage over the broken taxi window despite defence lawyer Grace Forbes stressing that Mewis told police “time and time again that she had broken the window”.
Kerr’s fiance defends her character | 00:55
“There is a broader point to be made here — one that came up at trial — which is that there is a difference between insulting a caucasian person for their race and insulting a non-white person for theirs,” Emery wrote.
“That difference comes down to one word: power. Racism is prejudice plus power. Historically, in our western world it is white people who have held the power and non-white people who have not. Overwhelmingly that remains true today.”
The same is also true for women’s safety concerns, as Sam Squiers wrote in a comment piece for foxsports.com.au. Nadia Russell of The Sydney Morning Herald also empathised Kerr’s situation while recalling her experience with one Uber driver who got lost and then instead of “apologising for the inconvenience” proceeded to “turn on” her.
“I’ve been in Sam Kerr’s shoes, and not only do I completely understand her behaviour during her infamous exchange with a constable in a Twickenham police station, I don’t have a problem with it,” she wrote.
Kerr has been at the centre of a media storm. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, former NZ Football Fern and Team Heroine Founder Rebecca Sowden asked on LinkedIn if anyone else felt “uncomfortable” watching the Kerr trial unfold.
“Before smashing a taxi window to ‘escape’, Kerr & partner, Kristie Mewis feared they were being kidnapped after the driver locked the doors & windows, drove erratically & wouldn’t stop (after Kerr spit-vomited out the window),” she wrote.
“Whenever I take a taxi/uber, particularly at night I study the driver ID & am on high alert. Sadly, I’m sure many women go through similar ‘fears’ when doing other ‘day-to-day’ activities (taxis, jogging, walking to your car at night…). Feeling afraid during daily activities should not be, but is the reality for many women.”
Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells also threw her support behind Kerr, saying “the more we find out about the incident the more you can understand why they’ve acted the way they have”.
“… Sam certainly has Australia behind her.”
But that isn’t necessarily the case.
Kerr audio from taxi played in court | 00:56
As The Guardian’s Kieran Pender wrote, the not-guilty verdict “does little to quell bigger questions about the ongoing reputational fallout, including Kerr’s future as captain of the national team and the face of women’s football in Australia”.
He mentioned the additional context that was brought up throughout the trial in Kerr’s favour, including the Matildas star telling the court that after she vomited out the window the driver allegedly acted “crazy” and refused to let them leave.
Kerr went on to tell the court that he locked the doors and started heading in an unknown direction, adding that she felt “terrified” for her life while Mewis feared it was a “kidnapping”
Pender also referenced Kerr’s citing of the Claremont serial killer, along with the fact she felt like she was treated differently by police because of “the colour of my skin”.
“For Kerr’s detractors, this wider context obscures the central point: here was an entitled millionaire footballer, drunk, vomiting in the back of a taxi, and then using rude language as police officers sought to de-escalate the situation,” Pender added.
“… As the evidence over the past week revealed, there are competing kinds of privilege at play here – with enough material for those on either side of the debate to claim vindication. The video footage is not flattering to Kerr; the context explains, even excuses, say her backers.”
So, the big question: what does this all mean for Kerr and her standing in women’s football?
What will come next for Kerr? (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Kerr made her Australia debut aged just 15 and has gone on to become one of the world’s best players.
She was the face of the 2023 World Cup on home soil after her profile soared to new heights when she moved to Chelsea in 2020 and steered them to the domestic double.
Australia’s all-time leading scorer, among men or women, with 69 goals in 128 appearances, Kerr has been shortlisted for the women’s Ballon d’Or and nominated for the Best FIFA Women’s Player consistently since 2017.
Named “Young Australian of the Year” in 2018, Kerr was hailed as “inspirational, well-grounded, professional and mature”, helping drive change in Australian football with a minimum wage now in place and players treated as professionals.
Pender wrote that “even before the verdict it was clear things will not be the same” for Kerr or Australian football.
“The extent to which this incident tarnishes a glittering career, or is relegated to a footnote, remains to be seen,” he added.
“For many, in these polarised times, the answer to that question was predetermined before the trial had even commenced.”
Kerr officer challenged over motives | 01:50
It is a similar point to the one made by the Australian Financial Review’s Hans van Leeuwen, who wrote that Kerr was “exonerated by the jury unanimously, but the court of public opinion remains divided”.
“Who was belittling whom? Who was racist to whom? Everyone has a view, and there’s no chance of a universal verdict,” he added, referencing the fact that while many women are “sympathetic” to Kerr’s situation, the “furious commentary” in reaction to the case suggests she has “lost a lot of admirers”.
Kathryn Batte, meanwhile, wrote in a column for The Telegraph UK that “it is up to Kerr now what story she writes next”.
“Australia’s golden girl, their sporting superstar and hero showed she was not perfect after all,” wrote Batte.
“Kerr showed herself to be human. A human who can make a mistake, just like everybody else. The question now is whether she can repair her damaged reputation off the pitch and rediscover her best form on it.”
Listening to the full 34 minutes of Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis’ interaction with police changed my view completely.
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Not the snippet of Sam, calling the police officer “stupid and white” which has gone viral this past week. The full 34 minutes.
The one where Sam, who was found not guilty on Wednesday of racially aggravated harassment, and her fiancé Kristie are trembling, they are terrified. Hearing the exasperation in their voices of having their concerns and fears blatantly dismissed by the police officers made my heart sink.
Sam: “When a male is driving the f***ing car fast, for two women, it’s f***ing scary”, after explaining the taxi driver was driving erratically and wouldn’t let them out of the car, even after agreeing to pay for the damage.
Police: “Hmm… OK”
Kristie: “But do you guys not believe us?”
Sam: “You’re acting like we’re lying” she says as her voice breaks.
I’m not arguing whether Sam is right, nor whether the taxi driver is in right, like the court case that’s not what’s at issue. But at the end of 30 minutes of these women’s clear safety concerns about the taxi driver being consistently and flippantly dismissed, that’s when Sam snapped and made the comments in question.
I don’t condone what Sam said but after watching the full video I feel her frustration and I feel her fear.
Every woman has felt like Sam Kerr felt.
There are learned behaviours we pick up from a young age.
Put your keys through your fingers when walking at night.
Pretend to call someone when your surrounds scare you.
Cross the street if someone is walking behind you.
A girlfriend of mine calls her mum on the way home from work each night, she talks to her the whole way, especially the walk from her car to her front door. They hang up only when she’s inside and the door’s locked behind her.
My female colleagues won’t let each other walk to the carpark alone at night.
Women get it.
Not every man does.
Sam Kerr outside Kingston Crown Court in south London.Source: AFP
Recently I was trying to explain to a male colleague that catching the train from Central Station at midnight after we leave work isn’t an option for me. “Really” he answered. “Why? There’s so many people around, nothing would happen”.
My netball teammates and I went out for drinks after our game at the uni a few weeks back. I left early as I had to go home and on the way back became lost in the dimly lit university. I became so scared, I just ran as fast as I could, imagining the nightmare of my potential attack with every step. When I told a friend the next morning, he couldn’t understand my fear in that moment, scoffed at my story and told me “The uni’s the last place you’re going to be attacked or raped”.
It’s the privilege of being a man that you’ve never had to feel, react or fear in that way.
It felt the same listening to the full 34 minutes of Sam Kerr’s interaction with the police officers that night. They pleaded with the police officer to understand the fear they felt as the driver sped away and wouldn’t let them out. Kristie was so fearful, it’s the reason she smashed the back window. They spent over half an hour pleading with the police officers to understand and interview the driver. They didn’t take their concerns seriously.
At one point the police officer said ”In hindsight has anything happened to you? You were going off hypotheticals that could have happened? They didn’t happen did they? You do not know those man’s intentions you’ve just gone off a hypothetical of a scenario that has happened to someone else and said that could have happened? Do you think that a person that’s going to rape you would drive you to the police station?”
Every woman has felt like Sam Kerr has felt.
Sam Kerr and partner Kristie Mewis.Source: Getty Images
Sure it was a poor choice of words, but I believe her defence that her selection of “stupid and white” at the end of the video felt more a representation of the power and privilege of never being in a situation when you feared for your safety due to your gender and race, than it did a reverse racism attack.
Other women have felt it too.
Former NZ Football Fern and Team Heroine Founder Rebecca Sowden posted on LinkedIn “Anyone else feel uncomfortable watching Sam Kerr’s criminal case unfold? Before smashing a taxi window to ‘escape’, Kerr & partner, Kristie Mewis feared they were being kidnapped after the driver locked the doors & windows, drove erratically & wouldn’t stop (after Kerr spit-vomited out the window). Whenever I take a taxi/uber, particularly at night I study the driver ID & am on high alert. Sadly, I’m sure many women go through similar ‘fears’ when doing other ‘day-to-day’ activities (taxis, jogging, walking to your car at night…). Feeling afraid during daily activities should not be, but is the reality for many women.”
Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells also weighed in and said “The more we find out about the incident the more you can understand why they’ve acted the way they have…Sam certainly has Australia behind her.”
Sam Kerr celebrates her incredible World Cup semi-final goal against England.Source: AFP
At one point in the video, Sam rattled off numerous scenarios of women being attacked and raped in nearby London suburbs. In her evidence she mentioned growing up in Perth in a time of the Claremont serial killer.
One woman posted on twitter “I went to the same high school as Sam Kerr. So did two of the girls who were murdered by the Claremont serial killer. For decades, a taxi driver was the suspect. I cannot over emphasise the impact these murders had for girls who went to my school. The fear was drilled into us.”
Like walking with keys in your hand, a suspicion of taxis is another learned behaviour for some girls growing up in the 90s in Perth. That closeness, that awful reality hits harder than most and never leaves you.
So don’t talk about Sam losing the captaincy, don’t talk about her tarnished legacy, don’t talk about this court case outcome until you have watched the full 34 minutes of Sam Kerr’s interaction with police.
Every woman has felt like Sam Kerr has felt.
We need men in positions of power to understand that fear.
Spain star Jenni Hermoso on Monday told the trial of disgraced ex-football chief Luis Rubiales that the forced kiss he gave her in 2023 “shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting”.
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Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison against Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion after his kiss on Hermoso following the 2023 Women’s World Cup final sparked global outrage.
Rubiales has called the kiss an innocuous “peck between friends celebrating” and denied any coercion.
“I felt it was totally out of place and I then realised my boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting,” Hermoso told the court on the opening day of the trial.
“A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so,” she added.
The scandal that rocked Spanish football and wrecked Rubiales’ career came moments after Hermoso and her teammates had clinched World Cup glory by beating England in the final in Sydney.
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“As a woman I felt disrespected. It was a moment that stained one of the happiest days of my life,” Hermoso said.
“For me it is very important to say that at no point did I seek that act, let alone expect it.”
The trial at the National Court in San Fernando de Henares near Madrid is scheduled to run until February 19.
