Matildas coach supports Sam Kerr after racism charge

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has refused to buy-in on if Sam Kerr’s criminal charge in the UK should see her removed as Matildas’ captain as he said he will “always support” her.

Gustavsson was pressed to reveal what he knew about Kerr’s police officer harassment charge after it was revealed she kept the charge and court appearance secret from Football Australia for more than year.

Fresh off a storming 10-0 win over Uzbekistan which qualified his side for the Paris Olympics Gustavsson was due to speak to reporters on Tuesday about two upcoming matches against China in Australia.

Instead he had to admit he, like everyone else in the footballing world, found out about the alleged racial verbal attack on a Bobby via the media.

The Chelsea striker was charged on January 21 this year but did not inform Football Australia (FA) nor Gustavsson.

Kerr allegedly used insulting, threatening or abusive language that caused alarm or distress to PC Lovell during an incident in Twickenham on January 30 last year.

She has entered a not guilty plea and will likely face another court hearing next February.

Gustavsson remained circumspect when questioned whether Kerr would be stripped of the captaincy but offered his support.

“I can’t comment on anything other than referring to the FA statement,” Gustavsson said.

“It’s a legal process right now. I was informed this morning and obviously was surprised.

“The only thing I can comment on is my experience and interaction with Sam as a person, as a footballer, and I have only positive experiences.

“FA was very clear in terms of supporting our players on and off the field ... I understand why there’s a lot of questions about it.

“I will, as a human being, always support.”

FA chief James Johnson also played a straight bat when asked about the captaincy.

“It’s too early to tell ... we need to understand the situation better and until that time we can’t really say anything further,” Johnson told reporters in Adelaide.

“We need to allow the process to play out, I think that is important.

“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.”

Johnson said Football Australia was still coming to grips with what had been alleged against Kerr.

“I woke up this morning like everyone else did to the news,” Johnson said.

“And that is when Football Australia found out about this unsettling event.

“We are trying to get to the bottom of it at the moment.

“We have got our own questions that we’d like to know (answers to), we have got to find out what actually happened.

“But we also want to say that there is a process that is under way in the United Kingdom and that process needs to run its course.”

Kerr is currently recovering from knee reconstructive surgery after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Chelsea’s warm weather training camp in Morocco.

The 30-year-old is expected to be sidelined from the Matildas’ campaign at this year’s Paris Olympics.

“I think it’s a bit too early to look at selection at this time,” Gustavsson said.

“With Sam’s serious injury, there’s obviously a very big question mark whether she would even be up for selection.

“I know she has the treatment and support from Chelsea in the recovery process as well.”

Kerr, runner-up to Spain’s Aitana Bonmati at the Ballon d’Or awards last year, is Australia’s record goalscorer with 69 in 128 matches.

She has scored 58 goals for Chelsea in the WSL since 2020 following prolific stints playing for clubs in the U.S. and Australia.

Harassment convictions in the UK can include a sentence of up to two years in custody when the offence is racially or religiously aggravated.

Kerr has had not commented on the case at time of press.