Craig Foster had urged Football Australia to strip Sam Kerr of the Matildas’ captaincy if the charges were proven,to make a strong stand against racism. But he has had a change of heart.
Here’s everything we know - and everything we don’t - about the case that has gripped the nation.
For International Women’s Day,we asked a star cricketer,a Matilda,a Diamond,an AFLW spearhead,a rugby sevens Olympian and an NRLW captain what they would change if they had the power.
The Matildas captain allegedly calling a UK police officer a “stupid white bastard” has prompted larger conversations about how we define racism.
The football star has pleaded not guilty and is fighting to have a charge of racially harassing the police officer thrown out of court.
Just last year,London’s Metropolitan Police was deemed guilty of “institutionalised racism,misogyny and homophobia”. This at least raises questions about the charging of Sam Kerr.
It now seems Sam Kerr’s alleged remarks arguably appear to be at the lowest end of the scale,but that doesn’t change the fact her captaincy of the Matildas should be in doubt.
The governing body has the power to immediately suspend Sam Kerr for a violation of its national code of ethics but is weighing up its options.
The allegations threaten to tarnish the image of Kerr,who took home an estimated $3.3 million last year,and is regarded as one of the most bankable figures in the sport.
Criminal charge of an alleged racial aggravated harassment of a police officer against the iconic captain of the Matildas leaves Australians dumbstruck.
FA’s chief executive James Johnson and Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson didn’t know about Sam Kerr’s incident with police in London until the rest of the world found out on Tuesday morning.